Sound rituals by Lois V Vierk. In this episode of Theme some highlights from the oeuvre of the American composer Lois V Vierk, including works for strings and masterpieces like the guitar quintet ‘Go Guitars’ and ‘Words Fail Me’ for cello and piano.
For the American composer Lois V Vierk (63) music is like a ritual incantation. Her compositions are bursting at the seams with energy. Glissandos tumble over each other and sounds unleash an unstoppable motion forward. Music that gets under your skin. New Yorker Vierk is inspired by minimalism, but also by non-Western music like Japanese court music (Gagaku).
In this episode of Theme some highlights from her oeuvre, including works for strings and masterpieces like the guitar quintet ‘Go Guitars’ and ‘Words Fail Me’ for cello and piano.
1. ‘To Stare Astonished at the Sea’ (1994) for piano.
Claudia Rüegg, piano.
Vierk: Words Fail Me. New World Records 80766-2 CD
2. ‘Red Shift’ (1989) for ensemble.
Ted Mook, cello. David Seidel, electric guitar.
Jim Pugliese, percussion + Lois V Vierk, synthesizer.
River Beneath the River. Tzadik TZ7056 CD
3. ‘Blue Jets Red Sprites’ for accordion (1996).
Guy Klucevsek, accordion.
Klucevsek: Free Range Accordion. Starkland ST-209 CD Normal 0 21
4. ‘Timberline’ for ensemble (1991).
Relâche Ensemble conducted by Lloyd Shorter.
Vierk: Words Fail Me. New World Records 80766-2 CD
5-6. ‘Words Fail Me’ in two parts for cello and piano (2005).
Theodore Mook, cello. Margaret Kampmeier, piano.
Vierk: Words Fail Me. New World Records 80766-2 CD
7. ‘River Beneath the River’ for string quartet (1993).
Eva Gruesser, violin. Patricia Davis, violin. Lois Martin, viola. Bruce Wang, viola.
River Beneath the River. Tzadik TZ7056 CD.
8. ‘Go Guitars’ for five electric guitars (1981). David Seidel, guitars.
Vierk: Simoom. XI Records 102 CD.
9. ‘Simoom’ for eight cellos (1986).
Theodore Mook, cellos.
Vierk: Simoom. XI Records 102 CD.
