Songs of Ascension

Part of the 2009 Next Wave Festival

Oct 21—24 at 7:30pm
Oct 25 at 3pm

Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton
Featuring Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble and The Todd Reynolds String Quartet

"Monk's music retains its seductive buoyancy...[and her] choreographic palette is arresting." —The New York Times

From the Buddhist path of enlightenment to Jacob's ladder to heaven, the theme of spiritual attainment through ascent permeates the global unconscious. In Songs of Ascension, multidisciplinary artist Meredith Monk (last at BAM with impermanence, 2006 Next Wave Festival) embraces this universal notion, creating a sanctuary of music, movement, and video rooted in her evocative vocal style.

Inspired in part by sky-bound structures, Monk, together with video artist Ann Hamilton (mercy, 2002 Next Wave Festival), transforms the BAM Harvey Theater into a resonant spiritual chamber, using voice, strings, reeds, and percussion to envelop the audience in contemplative sound. Performers lend body to buoyant spirit as gossamer-like video projections flicker on the walls, sending the collective soul upwards on mellifluous currents of song.


BAM Harvey Theater
65min, no intermission
Tickets: $20, 35, 50


Music by Meredith Monk
Video design by Ann Hamilton
Lighting design by Elaine Buckholtz
Costume design by Yoshio Yabara
Additional costumes by Gary Graham
Sound design by Jody Elff

The New York Times reviews Songs of Ascension “The wonder of Meredith Monk is that having created a musical language and theatrical style, she has been able to stretch and refine them with just about every work.”[a url='http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/arts/music/23monk.html?ref=music ']More


The Los Angeles Times feature on Songs of Ascension at REDCAT“Inspired by Ann Hamilton's eight-story tower, Meredith Monk teams with Hamilton to create a piece that spans genres.”
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The New York Times review of Monk’s Ascension Variations at the Guggenheim
" a magical adventure woven from grand and pedestrian touches, and in the end the space itself is the star...”
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Minnesota Public Radio interviews Monk about Songs of Ascension at the Walker
Listen to the MPR’s interview and featured clips from Songs of Ascension
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PBS’s Art 21 series profiles Ann Hamilton
See video and slideshows exploring Songs of Ascension video artist Ann Hamilton’s work
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Official Website: Meredith Monk
Visit the official website of Meredith Monk for additional video footage from Songs of Ascension.
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Official Website: Ann Hamilton
Visit the official website of Ann Hamilton for information on current and upcoming projects
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Official Website: Todd Reynold (The Todd Reynolds String Quartet)
Visit the official website of Songs of Ascension artist Todd Reynolds of The Todd Reynolds String Quartet
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