River Spirits
(for 3 Sopranos and Chamber Ensemble)

Developed at Yellow Barn, the 21st c. Consort and the Folger Consort
This piece was made possible by a commission from the Fromm Music Foundation

River Spirits is an abstract fable.

Three characters sit by a river.
Are they in/from the future (?), the past (?)...
from another world (?)...
Perhaps they are three parts of one being (?)
(or all of the above)

They are sentient and content and intertwined - until their sanctuary is altered by the arrival of “messages” from outside their world. Perspectives are expanded and senses go wild. This splinters the trio causing conflict and confusion. In an allegorical fashion, the story portrays the tension of uncontrolled expression within a community, as well as the healing power of compassion and love. The vocal writing incorporates aspects of motet, extended techniques, and bel canto, combining with instruments from different musical contexts (concert/early music/found sound) … resulting in a sound world that is familiar yet otherworldly and “time-less”. 

I am also exploring the idea of language as a remnant of civilization. What of our culture resonates through our language - now and in the future? What aspects of human nature are reflected in - beyond - our words? The texts (which I have created/compiled) are a mix of languages, sounds, "nonsense", and music - in layers of fragmented meaning. The sounds and the words are a gateway to underlying contexts/intent. From a musical standpoint, this word setting is reminiscent of Medieval motets (which use multiple texts to convey layered meanings); operatic aria (which expresses heightened emotions with minimal text); and “grammelot” (the language of the Commedia dell’Arte). The music has been created in collaboration with my adventurous and magical vocal cohorts - Lucy Shelton and Mary Bonhag; and instrumentalists from the Folger and 21st c. Consorts, and from Yellow Barn. 

The next stage of this work will be the addition of a multimedia environment to mirror and refract the live performance “story”, created in collaboration with designer, Leslie Taylor.

-Susan Botti

Instrumentation:
3 Sopranos
Recorders/Irish Flute/Bagpipes/Sackbut
Bass Clarinet
Viola da Gamba 1 (dbl Electric Viola da Gamba)
Viola da Gamba 2
Contrabass
Percussion (balophon, daf, misc)