Meredith Monk: II. Choreographing Sound

Meredith rarely writes traditional scores. Many of her pieces live primarily in the heads of their performers, often members of Meredith's own vocal ensemble. Sometime she creates maps, sometimes she notates cells, but mostly these exists as a kind of mnemonic device. The real music exists as sound recalled, not notes on a page. For Meredith, the rehearsal process is all about experimentation. She uses her vocal ensemble like a massive, workshopping brain, trying things out on particular voices like a choreographer working through steps on bodies.

Enjoy some videos of Meredith Monk's music in performance below.