TT 265: Judith Berkson, aka "Unknown Genre"
A listen to LIEDERKREIS II
Judith Berkson commands a wide swath. I’ve personally heard her be convincing as a traditional cantor, as a recitalist in straight lieder, and as improvising vocalist for free jazz icon Joe Maneri. She is also in-demand as a gunslinger freelancer for contemporary chamber opera, and is a beloved teacher of harmony and counterpoint.
“Now that we can do anything what will we do?”
For her own records and concerts, Berkson has found a lonely path as an electroacoustic musician specializing in the repurposing of Schubert and Schumann. When I initially heard the first volume of Liederkreis, I didn’t know what to think, as it starts with a minute of what sounds like pairs of shoes falling on to a stone floor from a great height — before grating static comes in as “counterpoint.”
The mists begin to clear with the release of Leiderkreis II. Indeed, I like this album so much that I can now understand the first volume much better.
Certainly Berkson is mining fresh terrain. The Apple Music display (pictured above) lists Berkson as belonging to an “unknown genre,” and — in this case — Apple Music isn’t wrong.
A key turned in the lock when I bought Leiderkreis II on Bandcamp from Notice Recordings and went about my day. Liederkreis II became the perfect soundtrack for Brooklyn: sidewalk, subway, trash cans, park, elegant people, cars, skyline. Perfect. At times I came close to bursting into tears.
Several lieder of Schumann and Schubert are given hypnotic and reasonably faithful renderings, often sounding a bit like a chorale. The pitches are there, but the sonic surface is rugged and strange. Imperfections are built into the texture, just as with the unedited human voice.
The originals are comparatively hardcore: indeed, they are pure science fiction. Perhaps this Berkson music will be playing on the dance floor of the last lonely planets on the outer rim before the final event horizon.
Judith Berkson will perform as part of Sono Fest! in Brooklyn on June 13.