the beauty of joan la barbara (scores and photographs)

I’m a huge fan of Joan La Barbara. Her LP The Voice Is The Original Instrument is one of my favorite documents of the 1970’s NY avant-garde. La Barbara is a master of advanced vocal technique. In addition to her own remarkable creative output, she’s had a long career working with many of the greatest names in avant-garde composition – John Cage, Robert Ashley, Morton Feldman, Philip Glass, Alvin Lucier, Gordon Mumma, David Behrman, David Tudor, and her husband Morton Subotnick. In my wanderings around the internet I’ve come across some of her wonderful scores and images of performances etc. I thought I’d pass them along. To see and learn more visit her website.

 

Voice Piece: One-Note Internal Resonance Investigation (1975)

 

Persistence of Memory (2009)

 

Circular Song (1975)

 

In the Shadow and Act of the Haunting Place (1995)

 

Performing in Berlin 1981

 

With Gordon Mumma and David Behrman in 1974

 

Working on Philip Glass’ Einstein on the Beach in 1976

 

In 1974 with Philip Glass Ensemble

with Dickie Landry, Richard Peck and Jon Gibson

 

With David Tudor, Paris 1974

 

With Dana Reitz and Phill Niblock (1975)

 

Playing chess with John Cage

 

Performing in 1976

 

Performing in 1976

 

In the studio with Morton Subotnick in 1984