Rhythmic Quaternary was composed by Rae Diamond for the Long Tone Choir in 2014. This recording was performed by the Cornelius Cardew Choir, directed by Tom Bickley, and the Percussion & Improvisation Ensemble, led by Jennifer Wilsey, during a rehearsal at Sonoma State University in April 2015.

Rhythmic Quaternary

This piece portrays the sound and feel of the desert - sparse and dry, yet full of life and surprise.

Mid-range singers: Nina Bayley, Nancy Beckman, Brenda Hutchinson, Joe Kuta, Bob Marsh, Kalonica McQuesten, Suki O'Kane
Bass: Tom Bickley
Soprano: Rae Diamond
Engineered by: Joe Kuta
Composition & direction: Rae Diamond

Desert Chord

This piece portrays the vast void of space, interspersed with bright stars.
Singers: Nina Bayley, Rae Diamond, Joe Kuta, Katherine McDonald, Kalonica McQuesten, Suki O'Kane, and Caitlin Tabancay Austin
Recorded by: Joe Kuta
Composition & Direction: Rae Diamond

Stars

This piece simulates the motion and sound of waves moving from one side of the sound-scape to the other, and "breaking" irregularly, as on a shoreline. Headphones or stereo speakers are required in order to get the moving sonic effect.

Singers: Nancy Beckman, Tom Bickley, Rae Diamond, Joe Kuta, Bob Marsh, Kalonica McQuesten, Suki O'Kane, and Caitlin Tabancay Austin

Composition & Direction: Rae Diamond

Engineering: Joe Kuta

tides

This is the iconic Long Tone Choir piece. It's based on the phases of the lunar cycle, and creates a phasing effect as singers sound through the loosely canonic score in their own timing. 

Singers: Nancy Beckman, Tom Bickley, Rae Diamond, Joe Kuta, Kalonica McQuestin, Bob Marsh, Suki O'Kane, & Caitlin Tabancay Austin

Composition & Direction: Rae Diamond

Engineering: Joe Kuta

phasing lunar

Ash to aSH is mostly aspirated sounds with brief vocalized accents. This is a recording of a live performance at the Rotunda in Philadelphia, PA in June 2016. Singers are: Morgan Andrews, Asimina Chremos, Joe Clark, Rae Diamond, Leah Fenimore, Patricia Graham, Reid Hoffman, Joe Kuta, LeeAnn Mallorie, Mika Miles and Laura Neuman. Composed & directed by Rae Diamond.

Ash to aSH

One single note is sung throughout this piece, with various harmonics popping out of that fundamental wash through the use of specific vowels. This piece builds slowly, but you'll start hearing a lot of change around minute 2. Performed live by both the Long Tone Choir and the audience on 12/20/15 at the Subterranean Art House in Berkeley, CA. Performing in the choir that night: Rae Diamond, singer & director; Joe Kuta, singer & recording engineer; Singers: Suki O'Kane, Alicia Cox, Nancy Beckman, Kalonica McQuesten, Tom Bickley, David Samas & Derek Drudge.

One Note 1

A live performance at Art Ark Gallery in San Jose, CA on 2/22/19 at the opening of Ambient Dew Point, an installation curated by film artist, Keith Evans. Composed and directed by Rae Diamond. Singers: Nina Bayley, Rae Diamond, and Joe Kuta.

orbes aquam - live, trio version

biotic and centripetal developments of sound, time, and perception created by untreated human voices and breath. compositions & direction by rae diamond

long tone choir