Joan La Barbara (born 1947 in Philadelphia, PA) is an American
Composer, Performer and Sound Artist. Her work explores the human voice
as a multi-faceted instrument, expanding traditional boundaries in
developing a unique vocabulary of experimental and extended vocal
techniques.
La Barbara has collaborated with artists including Morton Subotnick,
Alvin Lucier, Christian Marclay and Merce Cunningham, and in the early
part of her career performed and recorded with Steve Reich, Philip Glass
and several jazz artists, developing her own unique vocal/instrumental
sound. Hailed as “one of the great vocal virtuosos of our time”, she
premiered landmark compositions written for her by noted American
composers, including Morton Feldman’s ‘Three Voices’; Morton Subotnick’s
chamber opera ‘Jacob’s Room’; and the title role in Robert Ashley’s
opera ‘Now Eleanor’s Idea’; as well as Philip Glass and Robert Wilson’s
‘Einstein on the Beach’; Steve Reich’s ‘Drumming’; John Cage’s ‘Solo for
Voice 45′, and many more.
In 2008, La Barbara was awarded the American Music Center’s Letter of
Distinction for significant contributions to the field of contemporary
American music.
Read a full biography alongside recordings and archival photographs via the artist’s website
here
Above: Klee Alee (scored for multiple voices) was
commissioned by RIAS (Radio in the American Sector) in 1979 and was
released on her
Reluctant Gypsy LP, Wizard Records. The piece takes inspiration from the composer’s experiences while viewing a Paul Klee painting.
Listen below to an interview with Joan La Barbara via the
CKUT archives, produced November 1990 by Kathy Kennedy.
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