Next up was Starting At Language, a text-based electronic collaboration between Massachusetts-based cellist Vic Rawlings and Dallas-based vocalist Liz Tonne. This piece, which seeks a dialogue with Susan Howe’s poem Articulation of Sound Forms in Time, often verged on the operatic in its whispered intensity.

Tonne’s mostly minimalist vocalizations were heavily treated and processed through Rawlings’ knob-turning. The glitchy exposed/de-boxed speakers contributes to the improvisational/chance nature of the work as well as adds a visual element to an otherwise austere spectacle of two seated performers. It was the perfect transition into the headliner.

 

Rounding out the evening was Dutch improvisational vocalist Jaap Blonk performing Kurt Schwitter’s dada sound poem Ursonate. Blonk, who has been in this line of work since the late 1970s, easily captivated the audience with his outstanding interpretation.

Putting into question the nature of language and pushing the limits of language’s capacity to convey meaning were chief concerns of dada. Culture Hole’s event celebrated that history as well as signaled some possible future trajectories.

Next up was Starting At Language, a text-based electronic collaboration between Massachusetts-based cellist Vic Rawlings and Dallas-based vocalist Liz Tonne. This piece, which seeks a dialogue with Susan Howe’s poem Articulation of Sound Forms in Time, often verged on the operatic in its whispered intensity.

Tonne’s mostly minimalist vocalizations were heavily treated and processed through Rawlings’ knob-turning. The glitchy exposed/de-boxed speakers contributes to the improvisational/chance nature of the work as well as adds a visual element to an otherwise austere spectacle of two seated performers. It was the perfect transition into the headliner.

 

Rounding out the evening was Dutch improvisational vocalist Jaap Blonk performing Kurt Schwitter’s dada sound poem Ursonate. Blonk, who has been in this line of work since the late 1970s, easily captivated the audience with his outstanding interpretation.

Putting into question the nature of language and pushing the limits of language’s capacity to convey meaning were chief concerns of dada. Culture Hole’s event celebrated that history as well as signaled some possible future trajectories.