"Stimmung," translatable as "tuning" or "being in tune with," is a long-form exploration of vocal harmonics for six vocalists and six microphones. The entire piece is based on a low B flat, from which the vocalists spread out harmonically using overtone singing. Clocking in at over one hour in duration, the effect on the listener is simply hypnotic and is similar in many ways to the works of the so-called "minimalist" composers. The overtones of the voices take on the sounds of wind instruments, like a flute or a bassoon. Over the course of the performance, the vocalists are singing meditations on numerous deities from the all over the world, interspersed with various spoken "recitatives" with a somewhat juvenile sexual subject matter. Vocal group Singcircle, an avant-garde vocal sextet based in England, perform flawlessly, their eerie overtones floating high above the fundamental notes. ~ Mark W. B. Allender
