New Music Edmonton

Promoting Canadian Sonic Art

Promoting Canadian Sonic Art

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5.1: Helen Pridmore

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Artist photo Helen Pridmore.
Helen Pridmore. Credit Trevor Hopson.

Episode 5.1 (November 2024) Multi-faceted artist Helen Pridmore is our guest on this episode. For decades Helen has been a champion of cutting edge compositions by a huge roster of contemporary composers. With a palette of vocal techniques that includes virtually every “extended” technique imaginable, traditional classical singing, improvisation, live electronics and more, Helen Pridmore’s work is wide-ranging, and she has performed across Canada, as well as in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. Among her priorities as an artist has been intense, sonic and multidisciplinary collaborations with a huge list of great artists. Recent projects have included theatrical works, both self-composed, and created in tandem with others. Our conversation with Helen looks at all of these things, and begins with some really interesting background talk about her voice, and how she came to be interested in experimental music and art.

Program:

02:03 Out Loud (2023, excerpt 1)
Composed and Directed by Terri Hron in collaboration with Helen Pridmore and Jennifer Beatty

17:10 Voi(REX) (excerpt 1)
Composed 2003 by Phillipe Leroux, performed 2021 by Helen Pridmore and Aventa Ensemble

28:37 Aria (excerpt)
Composed by John Cage, 1958, performed 2013 by Helen Pridmore

37:14 Voi(REX) (excerpt 2)
Composed 2003 by Phillipe Leroux, performed 2021 by Helen Pridmore and Aventa Ensemble

43:31 Voi(REX) (excerpt 3)
Composed 2003 by Phillipe Leroux, performed 2021 by Helen Pridmore and Aventa Ensemble

52:45 GOYA (excerpt)
Composed 2015 by WL Altman, Libretto by David Fancy, both in collaboration with Helen Pridmore

61:36 Out Loud (2023, excerpt 2)
Composed and Directed by Terri Hron in collaboration with Helen Pridmore and Jennifer Beatty

67:22 Sor Juana and the Silences (excerpt)
Created and performed by Helen Pridmore, 2018

68:06 Out Loud (2023, excerpt 3)
Composed and Directed by Terri Hron in collaboration with Helen Pridmore and Jennifer Beatty

Artist Bio:

Helen Pridmore is a singer and a sound artist, focused on contemporary scored music, experimental music and improvisation. With a voice described as “acrobatic, finely-tuned and characterful” (UK composer Michael Finnissy), and with an “impressively extended technical and stylistic range” (The Whole Note), she loves to explore new sounds and try vocal experiments. Helen has performed across Canada and the US, including a solo appearance at Carnegie Hall, as well as in Europe, Mexico and Japan. She’s worked with a wonderful array of artists, ranging from purely classical to extremely experimental. Helen can be heard on a number of recordings, including “…between the shore and the ships” (Canadian Music Centre release), which won an East Coast Music Award in 2013. Helen also writes music, for herself and others. In her current home of Saskatoon (Treaty 6 Territory) she leads several community music groups and continues her performing career, presenting both composed and improvised works for voice and occasionally piano as well.

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