Voices of Connection: 01/20 Bulgarian Traditional - Kalimakou Denkou
VOICES OF CONNECTION WELCOMES GUEST CURATOR AND ASTRONAUTICA COMPOSER JENNIFER JOLLEY
Jennifer Jolley (b. 1981) is a West Texas-based composer of vocal, orchestral, wind ensemble, chamber, and electronic works.
Jennifer's work draws toward subjects that are political and even provocative. Her collaboration with librettist Kendall A, Prisoner of Conscience, has been described as "the ideal soundtrack and perhaps balm for our current 'toxic'…times" by Frank J. Oteri of NewMusicBox. Read more.
While researching music for my piece, I stumbled upon an album by the Bulgarian State Television Female Choir. I could not stop listening. Granted, I had no idea what words they were singing, but I was enthralled by the power, rawness, and zeal these women possessed. I wanted to impart this strength, beauty, and wonderment into my work. I listened for different asymmetrical rhythms, percussive text, and melismatic singing to augment my writing.
– Jennifer Jolley
ABOUT JENNIFER'S ASTRONAUTICA PIECE
“Her Speed Left the Winds Behind”
In 2019, I had the great opportunity to set text for treble voices from an interview with NASA astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper. The interview was recorded only days before her second Space Shuttle mission and included her recounting her first space mission.
There is really something epic about what Stefanyshyn-Piper has accomplished. Artistically, it was a really joyful challenge to try and translate her experiences into music.
When Stefanyshyn-Piper describes looking at the Earth spinning in orbit and not seeing borders, I remember really thinking about our collective humanity and the fragility of our planet. My ambition, ultimately, became to preserve the stunning awe she felt in the moment with the profundity I developed as a reader of her account. – Jennifer Jolley
Click the image above for more info and tix to ASTRONAUTICA