From the New Sounds Live concert series, hear the New York premiere of MEMORY GAME, a collaborative work from Meredith Monk and her Vocal Ensemble (featuring Theo Bleckmann, Katie Geissinger, and Allison Sniffin) and the hybrid electric chamber music band Bang on a Can All-Stars, recorded at Pioneer Works. The evening-length work is a magical memory tour which reorchestrates nine pieces from Monk’s varied theatrical productions since the early 1980s and includes selections from her award-winning sci-fi opera The Games, as well as new versions of several pieces originally released on Do You Be (1987) and impermanence (2008), (Cantaloupe liner notes). Originally intended to open the 2020 Bang on a Can Long Play Festival, this premiere also celebrated Meredith Monk’s 80th Birthday Year. Listen to portions of MEMORY GAME, as well as a special encore, recorded before a sold-out audience in May 2023.  – Caryn Havlik

Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble
Theo Bleckmann, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Allison Sniffin: voices
Allison Sniffin: bowed psaltery

Bang on a Can All-Stars
Arlen Hlusko: cello and voice
Eleonore Oppenheim: electric and acoustic bass
Vicky Chow: piano, keyboard and melodica
David Cossin: percussion
Mark Stewart: electric guitar, banjo and voice
Ken Thomson: clarinets and saxophones 

Program #4754, NS Live: Meredith Monk & Bang On A Can All-Stars, from Pioneer Works (First aired 5/24/23)

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: The Politics of Quiet: Waltz in 5s [1:30]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Memory Game: Spaceship [4:41]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO:  Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Memory Game: Memory Song [6:50]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO:  Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Memory Game: Gamemaster's Song [5:28]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO:  Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Memory Game: Migration [8:01]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO:  Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Memory Game: Downfall [4:02]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Monk: Double Fiesta [5:45]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: Memory Game is out on Cantaloupe Music | bangonacan.bandcamp.com/album/memory-game

ARTIST: Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, Bang on a Can All-Stars
WORK: Monk: Panda Chant II [1:27]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live at Pioneer Works, May 5, 2023
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO:  The song appears on Do You Be via ECM Records