The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with music director David Robertson will premiere Meredith Monk’s newest orchestral work in a one-night-only performance on Saturday, March 13.
Along with the as-yet-untitled piece, the program will feature Monk’s 3-minute hit “Panda Chant” (1984) and another work for orchestra and chorus, “Night” (1996/2005). Monk and members of her vocal ensemble – including Allison Sniffin, Katie Geissinger, Thomas Bogdan and Theo Bleckmann — will be part of the performances. The program opens with Stravinsky’s Momenutum pro Gesualdo and ends with Bartok’s Music for Strings Percussion & Celesta.
Monk’s first orchestra work was “Possible Sky” commissioned in 2003 by Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony. According to Paul Schiavo’s program notes the new piece presents Monk working in a new long-form, in contrast to larger works in the past that were made up of discreet sections. The new piece will be, says the composer, in a “continuous woven form.” Monk is also aiming for an integration of voices and orchestra. “Monk has no interest in the traditional paradigm of vocal melody with instrumental accompaniment,” writes Schiavo. The orchestrations for both the new piece and “Night” are credited to Allison Sniffin with Monk. The full program notes can be viewed here.
Monk’s new work was co-commissioned by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, which perform it on April 11 in Walt Disney Hall. That program also includes “Night” and excerpts from Monk’s “Songs of Ascension,” along with Arvo Part’s “Miserere.”
