The Whitney Museum of American Art presents Meredith Monk Music @ the Whitney, a one-day-only performance marathon featuring highlights from 43 years of work by the eminent composer, singer, and multi-disciplinary artist.

From Wikipedia --

Meredith Monk is primarily known for her vocal innovations, including a wide range of extended techniques, which she first developed in her solo performances prior to forming her own ensemble...

In 1978 Monk formed Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble (modelled after similar ensembles of musical colleagues such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass) to explore new and wider vocal textures and forms which often were contrasted with minimal instrumental textures. Pieces from this time include Dolmen Music (1979), which also was recorded for her first album released at Manfred Eicher's record label ECM in 1981.

In the early 1990s, Monk composed an opera called Atlas, which premiered in Houston Texas in 1991. She has also written pieces for instrumental ensembles and symphony orchestras. Her first symphonic works were Possible Sky (2003) and Stringsongs (2004), which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet. In 2005, events all over the world were help in celebration of the 40th anniversary of her career, including a concert in Carnegie Hall featuring Björk, Terry Riley, DJ Spooky (who sampled Monk on his album Drums of Death), John Zorn, and the new music ensembles Alarm Will Sound and Bang on a Can All-Stars, along with the Pacific Mozart Ensemble.

Meredith Monk's long relationship with the Whitney began in 1970 when she gave the first full concert of her music as part of the Museum's legendary Composers' Showcase series. Now, in a historic return to the Whitney, Monk and her Vocal Ensemble perform early material like A Raw Recital (1970) and more recent work like her haunting and witty Songs of Ascension (2008).

The concert will also include Stringsongs (2004), Monk’s first string quartet; music from ATLAS, a 1991 opera; and a series of instrumental pieces including Gotham Lullaby (1974), Tablet (1976), Lonely Spirit (1991), and Double Fiesta (1986). In addition, author Rick Moody will read his story Boys accompanied by four voices performing a piece originally composed for NPR’s The Next Big Thing.

Other performers in the marathon include composer/percussionist John Hollenbeck, singer Theo Bleckmann, violinist Todd Reynolds, next generation vocal ensemble The M6, students from the NYC Special Music School Middle School Chorus, and the powerhouse experimental percussion ensemble So Percussion.

Admission to the performance is included with Museum Admission. Doors will open at 1:30.

No reservations, no reserved seating, no special ticketing.

Links:
Meredith Monk's Website
The Whitney