feral choir: singing with Phil Minton
Phil Minton heeft een verleden als trompettist, zanger in 60s rock bands and vocaal improvisator in de meest uiteenlopende bands, genres en plekken. Bepaalde componisten schreven werken aan hem opgedragen, speciaal voor zijn uitgebreide arsenaal aan vocale technieken en improvisatieskills. Sinds de jaren 80 bereikt Minton iedereen met zijn Feral Choir project.
The Feral Choir project is a series of vocal workshops with non-professionals, leading up to performances. It originated in the late 1980’s when Phil Minton was asked to do some workshops with ‘non-singers’ in the Musik Centrum Stockholm. The success of these led him to develop the idea further. The choir consists of a workshop and a performance (in Walter, the same evening), not only for singers but for anyone who takes a delight in the freedom to experiment. Participants are encouraged to take a vocal leap and explore all vocal possibilities through exercises and improvisations.
Some of the choirs have been made up of professionals, sometimes actors and musicians, but many have been amateur groups with no previous musical interest or experience.