Inspiration for the Apocalypse

Meredith Monk, with the Bang on a Can Allstars: Memory Game

These Meredith Monk songs, which date from 1983 to 2006, are expanded, refined, opened up, multiplied and divided in new orchestrations by the Bang on a Can All-Stars. This is authentic Meredith Monk, with her own vocal contributions, as well as those of her Vocal Ensemble: Theo Bleckmann, Katie Geissinger, & Allison Sniffin. But there are very impressive contributions as well from the Bang on a Can All-Stars: much more than simple arrangements and instrumental accompaniment, they're closer to re-compositions. Monk's music is rich and diverse enough to play the role that Bach plays in Heitor Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras.

The highlight on the disc is Waltz in 5s, originally written in 1996. This vocalise with a quirky rhythm is a kind of hybrid of Villa-Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5 and Paul Desmond's Take Five. Many of the pieces, whether they're inspired by musical theatre (Memory Song) or Weimar Berlin (Totentanz), are haunting and often disturbing, no matter how light and frothy they may sound. But in spite of this, there is still an optimistic, uplifting note. As Monk says in her Composer's Notes:

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, I made a number of apocalyptic pieces that were a reflection of the fragmentation, violence and speed of the time. Soon after that, I realized that instead of stating the problem, it would be more useful and inspiring to return to the notion of offering an alternative. I wanted to create a musical world in which members of the audience could have a pure, direct and immersive experience.

In the middle of our own apocalyptic time there is much inspiration and encouragement to be found within this intriguing album.

This album will be released on March 27, 2020.