Arturo Parra - Voz (2007)

Colombian-born, Montréal-based award-winning composer and guitarist Arturo Parra conceived Voz (the Spanish word for voice) as four inter-connected pieces that can be listened to without interruption — there are none of the usual silences between tracks. The four pieces evoke the elements of earth, fire, air and water, and incorporate vocal expressions produced by Parra in real time, without the use of overdubs. All the sounds on this recording were created by breath, voice, and unprepared guitars. Ô Ulysse features Parra playing two guitars simultaneously, one of which is mounted on a tripod. Parra suggests the listener approach the recording in one of two ways: “… like a long-distance walker covering the miles with a purposeful stride, or you can choose any number of places to pause. Let the aural landscape be your guide.”