Bartalk by Sean Noonan with the Ligeti Quartet

Bartalk: A Monodrama for Speaking Drummer and Large Ensemble live at St. Giles Church, London

Sean Noonan, the celebrated drummer and composer known for his innovative 'Rhythmic Storytelling,' proudly unveils his latest and most ambitious project to date in Bartalk. This captivating live double album embarks on a journey that explores the profound themes of isolation and confinement, delivered through a unique fusion of new music, free improvisation, and rhythmic storytelling.

A Collaboration of Visionaries In Bartalk, Sean Noonan takes his artistry to new heights by joining forces with the renowned Ligeti Quartet, a U.K.-based ensemble dedicated to modern composers and groundbreaking programming. Alongside the quartet, Noonan is joined by fearless improvisers Matthew Bourne (Fender Rhodes and church organ), Alex Ward (clarinet, guitar), Helen Vidovich (flute), and Otto Willberg (bass). The text of Bartalk was written in collaboration with Guenter Janovsky with co-lyrical contributions from Malcolm Mooney.

A Journey into Isolation The context of the pandemic lockdown provides a poignant backdrop to Bartalk. During these challenging times, individuals across the globe grappled with isolation and its far-reaching effects. In Bartalk, Sean Noonan takes center stage, delivering an intimate performance through a series of episodes that seamlessly weave together new music, free improvisation, and Noonan's signature rhythmic storytelling. Noonan’s compositions merge voice and drum kit, providing a 'fifth limb' to contemporary four-limbed drumming, merging the roles of the drummer and the narrator into one.

Unveiling the 'Unknown' As the narrative unfolds, Sean Noonan immerses himself in the persona of the 'unknown,' delving deep into the emotional impact of isolation and solitary confinement. The journey takes form through episodic soliloquies, with the ensemble serving as a conduit for the 'unknown's' auditory hallucinations. The composition treats the ensemble as an extension of Noonan's limbs, resulting in a tapestry of polyrhythmic, polytemporal, and polymetric expressions, all inspired by the essence of the drum kit.

Recording and Availability Bartalk was premiered and recorded live on April 30, 2022, at the iconic St. Giles Church in London. This captivating performance marked the culmination of a five-concert UK tour, generously supported by the Arts Council of England, PRS for Music, and Forestry England, with sponsorship from Jazz Live at the Crypt.

The live double album release of Bartalk is available for digital download and streaming. It offers an immersive journey through sound, complemented by a full concert video where the secret link is embedded in the Bartalk cover web row album art.

Tracklist

1.	Bartalk Overture	11:04

2.	Let's Walk Below	6:34

3.	The Aqua Diva	9:50

4.	To Strip	6:31

5.	Wrinkles of Time	5:29

6.	Crossroads	7:38

7.	Cruel & Usual	6:34

8.	New Ways	11:01

9.	A Love Meltdown	3:32

10.	A Reluctant Astronaut	11:06

11.	Chant of the Unknown	2:41

12.	Deliverance	4:01

13.	Lost in the Wald	6:23

14.	Moonwalk	5:47

15.	Real Deep Real Slow	10:07

16.	Winter Inside	2:59

17.	Staring at Nothing	5:58

18.	Rite of the Unknown	5:53

19.	Purge	5:54

20.	Portrait of a Heartless Lover	3:10

Credits

released December 9, 2023

Recording Details: Sean Noonan (drums, voice and composer), Ligeti Quartet Freya Goldmark and Salomé Rateau (violins) Richard Jones (viola) Val Welbanks (cello), Helen Vidovich (flute), Alex Ward (clarinet, guitar), Matthew Bourne (Fender Rhodes / church organ), Otto Willberg (bass), Guenter Janovsky co-lyricist on track 2,3,6,8,11,15,16,18, Malcolm Mooney co-lyricist on track 7, 14, Sean Hargreaves (Producer), Seb Truman (Engineer), Michal Kupicz. (Mixing), Matthias Gleixner (Album Artwork )

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