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Meredith Monk - Ascent

 

Author: Julia Ranft

B.A. American Studies (HF), English Studies (NF)

Email: s0173273@stud.uni-frankfurt.de

Matrikelnummer: 7485864

The Future of (American) Music

Prof. Dr. Bernd Herzogenrath

Listening Report 1

Meredith Monk - Ascent

            Meredith Monk's song Ascent, builds slowly from the bottom up, both musically and physically, as this song was recorded in a tower with a spiral staircase. The song, almost 10 minutes long, reminds of yodel music, opera songs and orchestra at the same time. If you think deeply into the matter, this piece almost reminds you of one or more rituals, which are also a kind of fascination for Monk and why it possibly came to this piece of music.

Furthermore, one recognizes ecclesiastical chants, which, however, like all other texts, do not make sense, but are invented words.

            The mixing of the different melodies and vocals makes this musical work something very special and above all it shows Monk's minimalism in a way that has never been seen before. This creates a musical project with acting elements. While the music and the melodies of various choirs, instruments and chants slowly increase as the protagonists and musicians make their way up the spiral staircase, at the end there are shouts of individual notes at a very high pitch, which introduces the end of the piece of music and thus also reflects the minimalists once again.

            One could also view this work as a spiritual path that Monk takes with her music and interpretation here. What should also not be forgotten in the piece are the dancers, who are also part of this whole performance and thus, the spirituality desired by Monk once again give the final touch to the interplay of music, singing, choirs and dance a kind of perfection, their own perfection. Of course, the building in which the song was recorded also plays a major role in the interpretation of this piece. A piece of music recorded in a narrow tower with a spiral staircase and only a few windows, sounds of course very different than a recording from a recording studio. This special effect complements the whole thing.

            I think Meredith Monk wanted to create her own world of religion, spirituality and art with this specially modified piece of music, to which she herself is strongly inclined, without disregarding the sense of the minimalist, which I think she has succeeded in doing very well.

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