Joan Linda Lotz La Barbara (born June 8, 1947) is an Americanvocalist andcomposer known for her explorations of non-conventional or"extended" vocal techniques.[1][full citation needed] Considered to be a vocal virtuoso in the field ofcontemporary music,[2] she is credited with advancing a new vocabulary of vocal sounds including trills, whispers, cries, sighs, inhaled tones, and multiphonics (singing two or more pitchessimultaneously).
Joan La Barbara's early creative work (early to mid 1970s) focuses on experimentation and investigation of vocal sound as raw sonic material, including works that explore variedtimbres on a single pitch,"circular singing" inhaled and exhaled singing inspired by horn players'circular breathing techniques, and multiphonic or chordal singing [i.e. double-stops for the voice]. In the mid 1970s, she began creating more structured compositional works, some of which include electronics and layered voice sounds.[4]
In 2004, she was awarded aGuggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition.[6] She also received a Foundation for Contemporary ArtsJohn Cage Award (2016).[7]
Joan La Barbara has also done work acting and composing for television, film, and dance. She composed and performed the music for theSesame Street animated segmentSigning Alphabet, for electronics and voice, and has composed a variety of chamber, orchestral, and choral works. She also appears inMatthew Barney’s 2014 filmRiver of Fundament. La Barbara is currently on the music composition artist faculty atNew York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, and on the faculty of Mannes/The New School/College of Performing Arts.
Voice Is the Original Instrument (2016). Arc Light Editions, vinyl release, ALE005.
io: atmos (2009) New World Records, CD 80665
Voice Is the Original Instrument: Early Works (2003). Lovely Music, CD 3003.
Awakenings, for chamber ensemble (1994) Music & Arts, CD 830
Shamansong (1998) New World Records, CD 8054
73 Poems (1994) book and CD withKenneth Goldsmith, Lovely Music, Ltd., CD 3002
"Computer Music Series, Vol.13, The Virtuoso in the Computer Age III",l'albero dalle foglie azzurre (tree of blue leaves), for solo oboe and computer music on tape (1993) Centaur Records, CRC 2166
Sound Paintings (1991) Lovely Music, Ltd., CD 3001
Silent Scroll onNewband Plays Microtonal Works, (1990) Mode Records, #18
The Art of Joan La Barbara (1985) Nonesuch, LP 78029-1
As Lightning Comes, In Flashes (1983) Wizard Records, LP RVW 2283
The Reluctant Gypsy (1980) Wizard Records, RVW 2279
Tapesongs (1978) Chiaroscuro, LP CR-196
Voice Is the Original Instrument: Early Works (1976) Wizard Records, LP 2266
^Pool, Jeannie G. (January 1979). "America's Women Composers: Up from the Footnotes".Music Educators Journal.65 (5): 35.doi:10.2307/3395571.JSTOR3395571.Joan La Barbara, a major innovator in her use of voice in both live and taped electronic works.
^Sanders, Linda; Sweet, Michelle C. (1994)."La Barbara, Joan". In Sadie, Julie Ann; Samuel, Rhian (eds.).The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. W. W. Norton. pp. 259–260.ISBN0-393-03487-9.
