Joan La Barbara facts for kids

Joan La Barbara, born Joan Linda Lotz on June 8, 1947, is an American singer and composer. She is famous for exploring new and unusual ways to use her voice. People see her as a vocal expert in modern music. She helped create many new vocal sounds. These include special trills, whispers, cries, sighs, and even singing two or more notes at the same time.

About Joan La Barbara

Joan La Barbara grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a very important person in experimental music. She trained as a classical singer. She studied at Syracuse University and The Juilliard School.

Early Music Explorations

In the 1970s, Joan La Barbara focused on experimenting with vocal sounds. She explored different voice qualities on one note. She also used "circular singing," which is like how horn players breathe. This lets her sing while both breathing in and out. She also developed "multiphonic" singing, which means singing chords with her voice. Later in the 1970s, she started creating more structured music. Some of these pieces included electronic sounds and layered voices.

Working with Other Artists

Joan La Barbara has performed many vocal pieces by famous composers. Many of these pieces were written just for her voice. She has worked with composers like John Cage, Philip Glass, and her husband Morton Subotnick. She also collaborated with dancers and poets. In 2004, she received a special award called a Guggenheim Fellowship for her music. She also won the John Cage Award in 2016. Today, she teaches as a guest instructor at HB Studio.

Other Creative Work

Joan La Barbara has also worked in television, film, and dance. She composed and performed music for a "Sesame Street" cartoon called Signing Alphabet. This piece used electronics and her voice. She has also created music for orchestras and choirs. She appeared in the 2014 film River of Fundament. Currently, Joan La Barbara teaches music composition at New York University. She also teaches at Mannes/The New School.

Selected Music Works

Joan La Barbara has released many albums of her own music. She has also been featured on albums by other composers.

Her Own Albums

• Voice Is the Original Instrument (2016)
• io: atmos (2009)
• Voice Is the Original Instrument: Early Works (2003)
• Shamansong (1998)
• Sound Paintings (1991)

Featured on Other Composers' Albums

• Johann Johannsson Arrival (Original Soundtrack) (2016)
• Robert Ashley Now Eleanor's Idea (2007)
• John Cage John Cage at Summerstage with Joan La Barbara, William Winant and Leonard Stein (1995)
• Morton Subotnick All my hummingbirds have alibis (1993)
• Philip Glass Music in 12 Parts (1990)
• Morton Feldman Three Voices for Joan La Barbara (1989)

See also

In Spanish: Joan La Barbara para niños