VERNACULAR
is based on a series of metaphors written by my students as part of a lesson while teaching English in China.
The metaphors themselves were chosen based on their universal applicability and were then read and recorded by native speakers of Mandarin, Vietnamese, Khmer, Thai, and English in their native tongue and English (Chinese in the case of the native English speaker). These samples form the basis of the electronic sound world and were used to generate a larger thematic and formal structure for the acoustic portion of the piece.
I was concerned with the disintegration of aural communication systems and the inherent universality of gestural language.
The video portion was made in collaboration with Zach Castedo and consists of footage shot in various locations with China and in Gainesvile, FL.
CREDITS
Composed by Kyle Vegter
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Conductor - Alex McCabe
Violin - Amy Gonzalez
Cello - Jean Paul Martucci
Bass - Lauren Kingry
Clarinet in Bb - Kevin Jouanic
Trombone - Kevin Dionne
Percussion - Braxton Sherouse
Stereo fixed audio - Kyle Vegter
Video - Zach Castedo