published on AllAboutJazz, 6th Feb 2014, zzZing Agency PRESS RELEASE
Following the success of Other Plans (Lisa Young’s 2009 commission work for The Australian Voices), The Australian Voices Choir has commissioned a new work from Young for 2014.
Young is working on a choral arrangement (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) of ‘Misra Chappu’, incorporating the melody of this work from newly released “The Eternal Pulse” album under STEM.
‘Misra Chappu’ is in a 7/4 meter, and incorporates the south Indian vocal percussion art-form of konnakol. Aside from the beautiful jazz harmonies, the piece has a strong emphasis on rhythmic complexity with a ‘bluesy’ feel. The choir keeps the groove of the 7/4 talam (rhythmic cycle) with syncopated hand claps.
The new commission will be a celebration of The Australian Voices wonderfully adaptive choral skills and Young’s unique expressive vocal sound-bank language, fusing the sophisticated art of konnakol with jazz scat sounds.
The work will be recorded by the choir in late April and premiered mid-May at their ‘pub choir’ for the “Anywhere Theatre Festival” in Brisbane, Australia.
