Voices Unchained: Nightingale Vocal Ensemble 's Radical Path

Nightingale Vocal Ensemble is a classical choral group that refuses to be bound by tradition. In episode 41 of the Right Brain Music Podcast we meet three members of the group and hear ample cuts from their freely improvised album, Composition Sped Up.

Based in Boston, the group’s eight musicians have classical training and widely varied backgrounds. They’re also composers, which is unusual in itself. But what really sets them apart is that they’ve released an album of freely improvised music.

Our three guests are Ensemble members Benjamin Perry, Angela Yam and Nathan Halbur. We hear about their path from traditional music education and performance to their radical departure.

Their album title, by the way, comes from a Wayne Shorter quote defining what improvisation is. As you’ll hear, the Ensemble has a connection to Shorter, a jazz legend who passed away earlier this year. They also draw inspiration from Ornette Coleman and a range of contemporary musicians.

Deftly using their voices as instruments, Nightingale’s members are charting new ground. This episode reveals their story, with excerpts of their original music..

Here’s a playlist of tracks excerpted in the episode, all from Composition Sped Up:

1. “Night Air”

2. “The Gray”

3. “Space Triptych”

4. “Block Island Seaweed Study”

5. “Notes on Danube”

6. “Green Leaves”

7. “Hot”

Listen to their album and support the Ensemble here.