Dear Friends, I’ve spent the past few days up the Hudson at the Garrison Institute, participating in a retreat and workshop with Meredith Monk and Ellen Fisher. Meredith Monk is a composer and interdisciplinary artist whose work is centered around the voice. I discovered her music as I rummaged through record bins during college, and loved her way of combining wordless songs, gestural movements, and theatrical imagery.
What a fascinating artist she is and I really enjoyed the video about her. You captured the experience of the time spent with her so well, Sal. I especially related to one of those inevitable moments in a group when one suddenly feels awkward i.e. when you realised you'd forgotten your personal item, and I really felt for you! Meredith's vocal style reminded me of Maggie Nicols, who I was lucky enough to appear with recently at a gallery opening here in Wales. I was slightly nervous about meeting her and of trying and failing to 'measure up' to her talents, but she was so generous and even adopted some of my spoken word text to experiment with when she did her free improvisation. Combining voices with others is such a fantastically cohesive thing to do and I treasure my community choir for giving me this opportunity over many years. I'm looking forward to many more inspiring posts from you in 2024. Thank you!
Thank you for this beautiful journal of the retreat. I’m a singer who can no longer sing because of illness, and have loved Meredith Monk’s work since I first heard it in the 90s. To read about your experience brought such joyful and visceral memories of singing into my body.
What a fascinating artist she is and I really enjoyed the video about her. You captured the experience of the time spent with her so well, Sal. I especially related to one of those inevitable moments in a group when one suddenly feels awkward i.e. when you realised you'd forgotten your personal item, and I really felt for you! Meredith's vocal style reminded me of Maggie Nicols, who I was lucky enough to appear with recently at a gallery opening here in Wales. I was slightly nervous about meeting her and of trying and failing to 'measure up' to her talents, but she was so generous and even adopted some of my spoken word text to experiment with when she did her free improvisation. Combining voices with others is such a fantastically cohesive thing to do and I treasure my community choir for giving me this opportunity over many years. I'm looking forward to many more inspiring posts from you in 2024. Thank you!
Thank you for this beautiful journal of the retreat. I’m a singer who can no longer sing because of illness, and have loved Meredith Monk’s work since I first heard it in the 90s. To read about your experience brought such joyful and visceral memories of singing into my body.
Thank you for giving us a 'taste' of this brilliant retreat with MM! You have changed the rhythm of my day, so thank you again....