MEREDITH MONK : Book of Days (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is in many ways (but not completely) the soundtrack to the Meredith Monk film of the same title. Many of the pieces from the film which are little more than fleeting musical passages are fleshed out here into fuller, more composition-oriented pieces. Very limited accompaniment here; pieces are primarily vocal compositions augmented with the occasional dulcimer, hurdy gurdy, or cello. The music has a medieval quality to it -- not surprising considering the subject nature of the film -- and unlike many soundtracks, this recording stands up well on its own as a body of recorded work. First-time listeners who have not seen the film will be compelled to see the film. A satisfying work. by Mark Allender

MEREDITH MONK

1    Early Morning Melody 1'28
Voice – Naaz Hosseini
2    Travelers 1, 2, 3 2'31
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Ching Gonzalez, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Nicky Paraiso, Robert Een
3    Dawn 3'18
Keyboards – Nurit Tilles
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Ching Gonzalez, Joan Barber, Johanna Arnold, John Eppler, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Nicky Paraiso, Robert Een, Timothy Sawyer
4    Travelers 4/Churchyard Entertainment 6'34
Keyboards – Nurit Tilles
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Ching Gonzalez, Joan Barber, Johanna Arnold, John Eppler, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Nicky Paraiso, Robert Een, Timothy Sawyer
5    Afternoon Melodies 4'56
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Naaz Hosseini, Robert Een, Wayne Hankin
6    Fields/Clouds 2'21
Keyboards – Nurit Tilles
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Ching Gonzalez, Joan Barber, Johanna Arnold, John Eppler, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Nicky Paraiso, Robert Een, Timothy Sawyer, Wayne Hankin
7    Dusk 2'31
Bagpipes [Grosser Bock], Hurdy Gurdy – Wayne Hankin
Voice – Meredith Monk
8    Eva's Song 0'48
Voice – Toby Newman
9    Evening 2'51
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Meredith Monk
10    Travelers 5 1'55
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Robert Een
11    Jewish Storyteller/Dance/Dream 4'54
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Ching Gonzalez, Joan Barber, Johanna Arnold, John Eppler, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Nicky Paraiso, Robert Een, Timothy Sawyer
12    Plague 3'10
Voice – Andrea Goodman, Ching Gonzalez, Joan Barber, Johanna Arnold, John Eppler, Meredith Monk, Naaz Hosseini, Nicky Paraiso, Robert Een, Timothy Sawyer, Wayne Hankin
13    Madwoman's Vision 7'40
Cello – Robert Een
Recorder [Bass Recorder] – Wayne Hankin
Violin, Voice – Naaz Hosseini
Voice, Keyboards – Meredith Monk
14    Cave Song 3'48
Dulcimer [Hammered Dulcimer] – Nurit Tilles
Voice – Meredith Monk, Toby Newman

Ensemble – Meredith Monk And Vocal Ensemble
Music By [Improvisation By] – Wayne Hankin (pistas: 7)