Hildegurls: Electric Ordo Virtutum (Innova 712, 2009)
The Hildegurls – Eve Beglarian, Lisa Bielawa, Kitty Brazelton, and Elaine Kaplinsky – each took one act of the Ordo Virtutum by Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) and re-envisioned it for the 20th century. The piece premiered at the Lincoln Center Festival in 1998, directed by Grethe Barrett Holby. Of the CD, The Philadelphia Inquirer raved, “The Hildegurls is a particularly impressive band of performer/composers .....who obviously revere this cloistered feminist cult figure, who had visions and enough talent to portray them in song and this liturgical drama, Ordo Virtutum.” The San Francisco Chronicle reported, “. . . the inventiveness and musical variety here are potent.”
Electric Ordo Virtutum – Act 1 by Lisa Bielawa Hildegurls: Electric Ordo Virtutum (Innova 712, 2009)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD COMPLETE TEXTS FROM A HANDFUL OF WORLD
A Handful of World (Tzadik 8039, 2007)
Includes Lisa Bielawa’s Kafka Songs, written in 2001-2003 and performed by violinist/vocalist Carla Kihlstedt; Lamentations for a City, written in 2004 and performed by the Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble; and A Collective Cleansing from 2000, sung by the composer.
“Witty, dramatic and poignant by turns, the songs offer a probing take on Kafka's texts, and the scoring - for one performer simultaneously singing and playing the violin - makes possible all kinds of tonal resonances and multipart counterpoint. The other music by Bielawa, a San Francisco native, is no less arresting or literarily astute.” – The San Francisco Chronicle
Kafka Songs - "Ghosts" Kafka Songs - "This Time" Kafka Songs - "Finally" Lamentations for a City
A Collective Cleansing
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PROGRAM NOTE FOR THE TROJAN WOMEN
First Takes (Albany Records TROY941, 2007)
Features world premiere recordings of four new works by outstanding American composers from the younger generation: Chris Theofanidis; Paul Moravec; Lisa Bielawa; and Michael Gatonska, beautifully performed by the String Orchestra of New York City (SONYC). It includes Lisa Bielawa’s 2003 work, The Trojan Women.
The Trojan WomenHurry (18.7mb)
Dawn Upshaw-John Harbison Workshop, Carnegie Hall Institute
CAMI Hall, NYC, October 9, 2004
Natalie Janssen, soprano; Colin Jacobsen, violin; Priscilla Lee, cello; Lance Suzuki, alto flute & piccolo; Carol McGonnell, clarinets; Molly Morkoski, piano
unfinish'd, sent (2.47mb)
Boston Modern Orchestra Project, conducted by Gil Rose
Jordan Hall, Boston
Roam (2.78mb)
Boston Modern Orchestra Project, conducted by Gil Rose
Jordan Hall, Boston
