Label: elsewhere

非常に素晴らしい内容です。。。お見逃しなく。Blumeからの1st LP、2018年mappaから連名作[Sisters]、そしてケージやルシエ、エレン・フルマンといった重鎮のリアライズを行いつつ、毎度ベストリリース的音源を残す素晴らしい音楽性を持つ作曲家Sarah Hennies。唇やストローにて発声を半分塞ぐ事で声帯の振動をスムーズにするボイトレの技法"SOVT"(Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract)を取り入れた2017年作曲作品が音盤化。なんとピアノ弦の殆どをパテでミュートし独特のパーカッシヴサウンドを創出、更に弦をパテで接続する事でピアノ全体が豊かな共鳴振動を発するという、"SOVT"をピアノで実践した凄い例...。点描演奏から徐々に加速する用に高密度に展開する演奏内容も最高。傑作。





4-panel wallet with one disc, cover photo by Mara Baldwin

'SOVT' is an album containing one 55-minute piece, written for piano by Sarah Hennies in 2017. SOVT stands for Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract which refers to vocal exercises that strengthens the voice by helping the vocal cords vibrate more efficiently. One may practice SOVT exercises by singing with a straw in the mouth which regulates air pressure and reduces strain on the vocal folds. Hennies encountered these exercises in a class on so-called “voice feminization” for transgender women which also inspired her other works “Falsetto” and “Contralto."

Almost all the strings of the piano in this piece are muted with Blu-Tack poster putty and this along with the rhythmic language of the piece results in a sound that is a hybrid piano/percussion-like sound. By connecting all the strings with putty, a dramatically rich sympathetic vibration occurs throughout the piano similar to the way in which one feels increased vibration in the mouth and throat by singing through a straw.

SOVT was originally commissioned by R. Andrew Lee and for this recording was performed by richard valitutto, who recorded the work at the Bard College studio in the spring of 2024 with Hennies engineering.