An immersive experience aimed at exploring the spectrum of the human voice in relation to acoustics, from Pythagorean intervals to diphonic singing. Sacred repertoire from the 4th century to contemporary, with improvisations and timbral-acoustic experiments. The quartet avails itself of the valuable collaboration of architect ELOISA VACCHINI, who proposes cultural journeys to discover Romanesque churches.
Arrangements by Oskar Boldre of composers such as: Ambrosian hymns from the 4th century, Notker Balbulus 8th century, Hildegard Von Bingen, Alfonso X di Castillia, Orlando di Lasso, J.S. Bach, Luisa Cottifogli, Oskar Boldre, Mark Isham, Michael McGlynn, Sainkho Namtchylak, Steve Reich, Tamia & Pierre Favre.
Vocalia is an unusual vocal quartet composed of extremely versatile voices that tackle a vast and selected repertoire of sacred songs from the 4th to the 20th century. Oskar Boldre is an expert in the technique of overtones, which, thanks to bone resonances, allows him to emit two sounds simultaneously, creating ethereal-sounding melodies that match the musical intervals expressed in architecture by the golden proportions related to the discoveries of Pythagoras and Fibonacci.
Combining also moments of improvisation dedicated to the sacred-Pythagorean intervals, the quartet proposes not only a concert, but a sensory journey of the hearing: the favourite instrument for contact with the Divine, balsamic music.
The audience, who are suggested not to clap and absent their sight, is enveloped by the sounds of the quartet moving and changing position, experiencing the different resonances and reverberations of the environment.
The quartet uses a very wide range of vocal timbres which, thanks to overtones singing, cover a frequency spectrum from 50 to over 2500 KHertz.
THE VOICES
CLARA TADINI - sopran
COSTANZA SANSONI BARATELLA - alto
DAVIDE BIANCHI - bariton
OSKAR BOLDRE – tenor, overtones, arrangements and conduction
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Vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, teacher and choir director.
He approached music at a very young age and began as a self-taught guitarist and singer in progressive rock groups in the Milanese “undeground scene”. He then continued through experiences in folk and afro-jazz as a singer, percussionist, bass player and composer.
During five years of ‘retreat’, in which he experienced life on a mountain farm in Tuscany, he discovered the power of the instrument-voice and the polyrhythms of the body. In 1992, he met Bobby McFerrin, his great source of inspiration, for the first time. He deepened his knowledge of overtones singing with Bernard Jaeger (CH/D), becoming one of the most experienced exponents in Switzerland. Since the mid-1990s, he has founded and directed various vocal ensembles, including the polyphonic choirs ‘Goccia di Voci’ and the vocal orchestra ‘Ancore d'Aria’. Since 2004, he has been artistic director of the international festival ‘Voci Audaci’. He wrote the ‘Giocando la Voce’ method, the result of 25 years of experience as a vocal improvisation teacher.
In 2013, he began sound research in Romanesque churches in collaboration with architect Eloisa Vacchini and, since 2021, with the Studio Vacchini cultural trips, they have been offering concerts with guided tours in Romanesque churches, reaching dozens of performances.He is also active with solo projects and has collaborated with, among others: Josè Moran, Luisa Cottifogli, Ivo Antognini, Simone Mauri, Francesco Forges, Thomas Achermann, Anna Oxa.
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ORGANIC 4 voices
AMPLIFICATION concert strictly acoustic, if necessary we provide a pair of AKG C414 panoramic microphones and speakers suitable for small to medium-sized rooms
CONCERT DURATION about 1 hour
REQUIRE a room for changing clothes and warming up vocals
SPACE particularly suitable for Romanesque churches but adaptable to any venue as long as it is quiet. Recommended placing the audience in the middle of the hall, so that the singers can wrap around them
SETTING preparation and acoustic examination of the environment: 2 hours
LIGHTS few and coloured, semi-dark environment. In churches: no special lighting ev. candles
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