Exploring Sound And Silence At The Rothko Chapel

Plus, Patti LaBelle's Tiny Desk (home) concert

View this email online Feb. 26, 2022 by Marissa Lorusso This week, our colleague Anastasia Tsioulcas travels to Houston to hear Tyshawn Sorey’s music for the Rothko Chapel; plus, Patti LaBelle performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert. Scott Dalton/DACAMERA The Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas is a nondenominational space, an art landmark and a center for human-rights action. The chapel features 14 monumental paintings by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko — some of his last works before his death in 1970. Commissioned  by John and Dominique de Menil, the chapel officially opened its doors in February 1971. It’s a place many members of the NPR Music team have dreamed about traveling to — and recently, our colleague Anastasia Tsioulcas got the opportunity to visit, reporting on the debut of a new piece of music by composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and MacArthur "genius" Tyshawn Sorey, titled Monochromatic Light (Afterlife). Fifty years ago composer Morton Feldman wrote music to commemorate the chapel’s opening, and Sorey used a similar set of musical forces: percussion, celesta, viola, choir and soprano; he also added a piano and swapped the soprano soloist for a bass-baritone. Tsioulcas spoke to Sorey about his relationship with Rothko’s music and how he wrote Monochromatic Light (Afterlife). He told her that he hopes his music gives listeners the feeling of being enveloped, like Rothko's paintings provide. “It's almost like you're moving around a room,” Sorey says, “and you're moving about the room in a silent sort of way, so you can be immersed in each moment that you go to." For those of us who weren’t able to witness the premiere, Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) will be recorded for ECM later this year, and will be performed this fall in New York City. Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Ambient music is everywhere these days — often working in the background — and its conventions frequently render its creators invisible. In other words, it’s tough for any single artist to really stand out. But on Plonk, producer Huerco S. commands your attention, delivering a challenging collection that begs to be heard straight through. In the past few years, hip-hop duo EARTHGANG signed to J. Cole's Dreamville imprint, toured with Billie Eilish and Mac Miller and released its major label debut; last year, when New Zealand was thought to have eradicated coronavirus, the duo was the only U.S. act booked to play a festival there. Yet when it came time to make its sophomore album, EARTHGANG remained committed as ever to its home city of Atlanta and to celebrating the resilience of its community. Ten years ago, Robert Glasper released his groundbreaking album Black Radio, a breathtaking fusion of jazz, rap, hip-hop and R&B. This week, Glasper released Black Radio III, which continues to explore and refine that sound while championing Black love and resilience. That album opens this week’s New Music Friday from All Songs Considered; plus, hear about new albums from SASAMI, Sevdaliza and more. Featuring The escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has dominated the news this week, and those tensions are reflected in the Ukrainian music scene, NPR’s Daniel Estrin reports: Music has helped Ukrainians claim their identity, and many Ukrainian musicians are turning away from Russia — and sometimes the Russian language — in an attempt to reassert it.  This week, the versatile rock musician and Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan died at his home in Killarney, Ireland. Lanegan had a rumbling rasp in his voice that could convey the weight of the world; he was a voracious collaborator, known for his work in Queens of the Stone Age and The Gutter Twins, as well as an accomplished solo artist and author.  Beethoven's opera Fidelio is the story of a man who has been unjustly imprisoned. A New York City opera company has reimagined the opera for the Black Lives Matter era, featuring singers from six prison musical groups — a mix of over 100 men and women who are incarcerated and about 70 community volunteers. Jazz and gospel pianist and singer Damien Sneed sees a divine hand in his own life story. "God has been everything in my music and everything to me," he tells Jazz Night in America. On this week’s episode, hear music from Sneed, including a 2021 set at Dizzy's Club, plus a conversation about his path through music. This week, our friends at KUTX shared a video of a live performance by Chief Cleopatra. Tiny Desk NPR This week, as part of the Tiny Desk’s Black History Month celebration, we shared sets from the Godmother of Soul — Patti LaBelle, who performed hits from across her incredible decades-long career — and the First Lady of Gospel Music, Pastor Shirley Caesar. Plus, we shared a performance by blues singer Buffalo Nichols, who plays a solo Tiny Desk (home) concert from an office building in Austin. One More Thing From “Milkshake” to veggies Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. 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