17793
Seminar
Voice, body and memory: perspectives on Cathy Berberian
Camilla Bork
Comments
Cathy Berberian is mostly known as one of the leading experimental vocalists of the new music scene of the 1950s-1980s. She collaborated with composers like Luciano Berio, John Cage, Bruno Maderna and Henri Pousseur, who explored the myriad and seemingly unlimited technical and expressive possibilities of her voice. She has been considered as flamboyant muse of the Darmstadt avantgarde, as blonde diva or – more recently – as co-author of the works written for her.
We will research the format of the "recital" as a multimedia event, as a highly interactive and communicative format that provides a platform for curatorial work. Looking at Berberian’s own take we will test our analytical tools, meet curatorial techniques and delve in group-based research-projects following questions such as: How did she use performance as a way of doing memory and history? In which way did she use technology, media and performative vocal and gestural practices in the creation of her different stage personas? How did she loosen otherwise fasten demarcations between avantgarde and popular culture? In which way did she negotiate her identity and memory as a post-migrant woman in the contemporary music scene? We will try to answer these and other questions with the help of the rich archival material housed in the Paul Sacher Stiftung in Basel, which has recently been made available. Our work will be the basis for artistic research projects pursued in the seminar: “Musical and sonic interactions with Cathy Berberian - perspectives of artistic research” (Thurs. 9-13, bi-weekly). We recommend students to take both seminars, but it is not obligatory. close
15 Class schedule
Regular appointments
Mon, 2025-10-20 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-10-27 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-11-03 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-11-10 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-11-17 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-11-24 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-12-01 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-12-08 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2025-12-15 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2026-01-05 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2026-01-12 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2026-01-19 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2026-01-26 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2026-02-02 12:00 - 14:00
Mon, 2026-02-09 12:00 - 14:00