Anne La Berge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anne La Berge
Born	1955 (age 69–70) Palo Alto, California, United States
Occupation	Composer, flutist, improviser with electronics
Era	Contemporary

Anne La Berge is a talented musician born in Palo Alto, California, in 1955. Her dad was a brain scientist, and her mom played the violin. Anne is a flutist (someone who plays the flute), a composer (someone who writes music), and an improviser. She lives in Amsterdam.

When Anne performs, she shows amazing skill on her flute. She uses special sounds like microtonal textures (notes between the usual notes) and percussive flute effects (making drum-like sounds with the flute). She also mixes these sounds with electronics. This makes her a "pioneer" in new music styles.

Many of her songs include her playing the flute herself. But she also writes music for other musicians. These pieces often involve guided improvisation (making up music on the spot with some rules) and electronics. Anne is also known for using spoken words or texts in her music. Besides her own projects, she often plays with other artists. She performs in many styles, from modern classical music to electronic music.

Anne's Musical Journey

Early Studies and Moving to Amsterdam

In the mid-1980s, Anne studied at the University of California, San Diego. She formed a duo with another flutist, John Fonville. They asked other composers to write new music for them. They also explored extended techniques for the flute. These are unusual ways to play the instrument. They especially focused on microtonal scales, which use notes that are not found on a piano. In 1989, Anne moved to Amsterdam, where she has lived ever since.

Kraakgeluiden: A Place for New Sounds

In 1999, Anne started a music series called Kraakgeluiden in Amsterdam. She created it with Steve Heather and Cor Fuhler. This series was all about improvisation. It brought together acoustic instruments (like flutes), electronic instruments, and computers. They used real-time interactive performance systems. This means the sounds changed as they played.

Many musical collaborations came from Kraakgeluiden. Even after the series ended in 2006, these collaborations continued. Anne's own music also grew during this time. The flute became just one part of her sound world. She started using samples (recorded sounds), synthesis (creating sounds electronically), spoken text, and electronic processing.

Collaborations and Unique Instruments

In 2006 and 2007, Anne worked with Dr. David LaBerge. They created a performance piece. It was based on Dr. LaBerge's apical dendrite theory (a scientific idea about the brain). This performance used film, spoken stories, and music.

Anne plays special flutes called quarter tone flutes (Kingma system). These flutes can play the "notes between the notes" more easily. She also often uses the Kyma (sound design language) System. This is a powerful computer system for creating and changing sounds.

Where to Hear Anne's Music

Anne La Berge's music can be found on many record labels. These include New World Records, Z6 Records, Unsounds, and Another Timbre. You can hear her as a solo artist. She also plays with many other musicians and groups. Some of these include Lukas Simonis, Ensemble Modern, MAZE, and Ig Henneman.

Anne's Impact and Teaching

Anne is an active artist at Splendor Amsterdam. This is a group of 50 musicians and artists. They turned an old bathhouse in Amsterdam into a lively cultural center.

Anne La Berge has received funding from Dutch arts organizations. She also co-directs the Volsap Foundation with her husband, David Dramm. Since 2019, she has been teaching courses at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She also coaches for a company that helps people improve their performance skills.

Discography (as composer)

• sand. Present Sounds Recordings, 2023.
• bruit Carrier Records 056 2020. Flute and electronics with Ted Moore.
• two cities verz 2020. Electro acoustic duos by Phil Maguire and Anne La Berge.
• Dropping Stuff and Other Folk Songs Relative Pitch Records RPR1094. Free improv with Ig Henneman and Jaimie Branch.
• Modern Genetics Splendor Records 001. A triple LP with works by Dramm, La Berge and La Berge Dramm.
• three cities verz 2019. Electro acoustic duos by Phil Maguire and Anne La Berge.
• RAW LP Unsounds 2017. With MAZE.
• The Hum Unsounds 2015. With Joe Williamson.
• SPEAK New World Records 2011. Works featuring Cor Fuhler, Stephie Buttrich, Misha Myers, Josh Geffin, Amy Walker, Patrick Ozzard-Low and Anne La Berge.
• Rust Fungus Z6 Records 2010. With Lukas Simonis
• Newly Refurbished and Tussock Moth esc.rec., 2009. songs by Apricot My Lady including Adam and Jonathan Bohman and Lukas Simonis.
• rasp/hasp Ramboy #19, 2004. Improvisations with Jody Gilbert, Wilbert de Joode, Richard Barrett, Paul Lovens
• VerQuer Upala Records, 2004. Includes rough diamond.
• Radio WORM WORMrec, 2004.
• Kraakgeluiden, 2003. unsounds 06.
• Flute Moments with Theresa Beaman 1998. Laurel Records 857. Includes revamper.
• United Noise Toys live in Utrecht '98. X-OR, 1998. With Gert-Jan Prins. Features duct; yolk; nape; lurk; flap; juke; moat; pike; turf.
• Blow. Frog Peak Music, 1994. Features never again; rollin'; [sic]sauce; indeed; unengraced; revamper.