Performer/Sound Poet

A big part of my research this semester went into extended vocal technique performers.

There seem to be two threads:

avant-garde sound poets

  • examples: Francoise Duphrene and Henri Chopin

extended vocal technique

  • Cathy Berberian is often accredited as the pioneer (she came from an opera singing background)
  • other examples include Diamanda Galas, Joan La Barbara, Maja Ratkje, Louise Anderson, Pamela Z
  • Pamela Z in Pink Noises:

‘For the most part, in new music, the people who are well known for doing extended vocal techniques—and for processing their voices electronically—are women. And I thought, I wonder why that is?’

‘Women tend to be placed in a position where they’re expected to use their body in this public way. [ ] While a man can be really wild and crazy, but he has to do it with a tool. He’s got to buffer himself with something.’

AGF comes to mind. Poem producer.

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