Facing North

by Meredith Monk & Robert Een

Facing North cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: ECM New Series
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 54:40
  • Community rating: 3.65/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Conceived during a winter residency in Alberta, Canada, this stark vocal suite explores the isolating, expansive qualities of snow-covered landscapes. 'Facing North' features the avant-garde composer harmonizing almost exclusively a cappella with her longtime collaborator, utilizing playful grunts, clicks, and extended vocal techniques. The minimalist arrangements create a pristine, chillingly beautiful atmosphere that mimics the physical environment of its inspiration.

Genres

Descriptors: a-cappella, minimalistic, chamber, strings, melodic, intricate, sophisticated

Tracklist

  1. Facing North: Northern Lights 1 (1:58)
  2. Facing North: Chinook (4:45)
  3. Facing North: Long Shadows 1 (2:24)
  4. Facing North: Keeping Warm (4:13)
  5. Facing North: Northern Lights 2 (2:58)
  6. Facing North: Chinook Whispers (0:32)
  7. Facing North: Arctic Bar (4:34)
  8. Facing North: Hocket (4:21)
  9. Facing North: Long Shadows 2 (5:39)
  10. Vessel: An Opera Epic: Epic (9:25)
  11. Vessel: An Opera Epic: Fire Dance (1:58)
  12. Vessel: An Opera Epic: Little Epiphany / Sybil Song (4:23)
  13. Vessel: An Opera Epic: Mill (3:01)
  14. Boat Song (Recent Ruins) (4:22)

Credits

  • Meredith Monk - primary artist, composed by, organ, piano, pipe [pitch pipe], voice
  • Robert Een - primary artist, composed by, composed by [developed in collaboration with], pipe [pitch pipe], voice

More from Meredith Monk & Robert Een: full discography