Ways of the Voice.(Review)

Leo Kupper: Ways of the Voice

Compact disc, 1999, Pogus P21018-2; available from Pogus Productions, 50 Ayr Road, Chester, New York 10918-2409, USA; fax (509) 357-4319; electronic mail pogal@frontiernet.net; World Wide Web www.pogus.com

The Belgian composer Leo Kupper is the founder and director of the Studio de Recherches et de Structurations Electroniques Auditives in Brussels. For this recording, we assume that materials for the four compositions were recorded and gathered in Brazil, while the actual composition and editing were done at the above mentioned studio. Credit is also given to Todor Todoroff for the use of a NeXT computer and granular synthesis software at the Faculte Polytechnique de Mons. The creators of the textural, attractive artistic cover and photos of Leo Kupper and Anna Maria Kieffer are not identified in the booklet.

Rezas populares do Brasil (Brazilian Popular Prayers), from 1998, opens with a truly enchanting movement, Meu Anjo (My Angel). Materials were taken from rites and religious ceremonies, the popular prayers of African and indigenous origins still commonly practiced in Brazil. A magnificent vocal drone sets the pace and tone for the first piece in this quasi-religious set. It is particularly effective when accompanying the improvised chanting of mezzo-soprano Anna Maria Kieffer, truly a co-composer in many of the songs in this disc. The second part, Elohim, also utilizes the voice of bass Eduardo Janho-Abumrad and is at times a bit simplistic and naive in its step-by- step transpositions. Interesting roving sounds assigned to the mezzo-soprano give a new coloration to the third piece in this set, 0 ar vivo, representing two alternating states between the living and the dead (Living Air; Dead Air). The last part, Sabatrana, is very effective in involving the two voices in creating their own accompaniment, with Ms. Kieffer delivering an emotive, supplicant chanting. The prevalent compositional technique is that of granular synthesis applied to extending consonant and vowel sounds.

All the other titles on this CD seem to indicate Mr. Kupper's recognition of Ms. Kieffer's talent and contribution, since they relate to her name: Anamak, Amkea, and Annazone. In Anamak (1996), the birdsong recordings are particularly effective, combining perfectly with vocalizations of a rhythmic nature, utilizing a pseudo-language with ethnic-sounding words ...