LOOK AT THIS STUFF! ISN’T IT NEAT?
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LOOK AT THIS STUFF! ISN’T IT NEAT? *
click the piX for more info/tiX
Tuesday, 10/14 @6pm
Arbitrary Residency: B-Sides
Tuesday, 10/14 @ 6:30pm
Barely Bros Records 783 Raymond Ave | Saint Paul
Pay-as-able: $0-$15+ (pay it forward, riches are impermanent)
Bring friends! I want 40+ people here every month, plz and tankee
B-Sides Arbitrary Residency returns to Barely Bros! This is a 90 minute event of highly-curated obscure songs from across ridiculously diverse genres. It shouldn’t work, except it does. Like, really well. Curated by yours truly, and hosted by yours truly, B-Sides Arbitrary Residency is perfect for a hang, an intellectual bonding, and for spending money on live music and good records.
3 sets. 3 worlds. 60 minutes of song. 30 minutes of hang. This time with ice cream!
Featuring:
poem|music: Baritone Justin Spenner (me) and Pianist/Special Guest Jordan Buchholz (not me) perform a set of post-1950 American art song about grief, social interaction, tumultuous relationships, and transcendance.
Sunken Moon: Emotional Drone & Post-Gregorian made by using field recordings, vocal loops, bass and organ drone by Xochi de la Luna. Playing
Two journeys into parallel universes. One about a world left behind, and another about feeling left behind. Songs for catharsis.
Steph Maa: melodious, gravelly, power-pop ballads that cut straight to the core. I met Steph at AOT’s Voice Lab, where they workshop their songs/performance. They floor me every time, goosebumps galore, people.
sUNDAY, 11/2 @ 2PM
Temptations of VESLOMØY:
Song Cycle World Premiere
My exploration of Nordic lore continues! This cycle is really shaping up to be something spiffy. Medieval modalities meet neo-romanticism. Confused? Well, there’s one reason to attend. Another reason: I get to float quiet high F’s almost constantly, and that’s one of my fav things to do with my voice.Also: the piece paints a picture of a mystically powerful woman (Veslemoy) struggling to break free from the oppression and possession of evil, sexually disgusting trolls. Her only desire is the safety of her sister’s soul, and she is willing to face literal satan to achieve it. Olde Tyme poetry means of course the metaphor for autonomy is unfortunately contextualized via chastity and religious fervour, but I think William Halverson’s translation side steps what it can in favor of Veslemoy’s persistence and resourcefulness. And, sooooo many sad feelings. Soo many.
In short, the piece lands. It’s fun to sing, the narrative unfolds, and Kjell Habbestad’s music is devoutly supportive of the text. Good stuff, bring your leftover Halloween candy and hang with the Norsk for an afternoon!
Here’s what Edvard Grieg Society of MN as to say about it:
“Veslemøy is the heroine of Arne Garborg’s Nynorsk verse novel, “Haugtussa” She was made famous by Edvard Grieg’s setting of 8 of the 70 poems from the novel, focusing on her misfortunes in love. There is a lot more to the story, and Habbestad and Halverson delve deeply into the rich folklore and mysticism that make up “the rest of the story.”
The piece is composed for three singers, piano, oboe, and bass. Performers are soprano Melissa Holm-Johanssen, alto Judith Melander, baritone Justin Spenner, oboist Carrie Vecchione, bassist Rolf Erdahl, and pianist Bryon Wilson. Composer Habbestad and translator Halverson will also be on hand for the premiere.
This concert is free and open to the public. Free-will donations will be accepted at the door. A 2:00 lunch precedes the concert at Norway House.”
Sunday, 11/2 at 2pm