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W A T E R December 21st, 2024 (solstice) M O U N T A I N February 4th, 2025 T H U N D E R March 20, 2025 (equinox) W I N D May 4th, 2025 |
protomaterial & primitive collective present
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F I R E June 21st, 2025 (solstice) E A R T H August 4th, 2025 R A I N September 20, 2025 (equinox) S K Y November 3rd,2025 |
press quotes
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"Spiritually illuminating" -- New York City Jazz Record "Cosmic dance" -- Percorsi Musicali "Sunlight refracted through sound" -- Foxy Digitalis |
"The project reaffirms Anaïs Maviel as a singular figure of contemporary creation, in dialogue with Eastern philosophy, expanded listening and ecological thinking in sound art" -- Mundo Clasico (translated from Spanish) |
releases & playlists below
The fusion of the 5 elements, a Taoist meditation originally taught by chi kung master Mantak Chia, is what prompted me to write listen to the rain. In this practice, the cyclical equilibrium between our organs, our senses, colors, emotions, elements of nature, seasons and the planetary movements are all expressed through the 8 forces or 8 trigrams, which are variations of yin & yang combinations -- the powerful paradox of polarity transcending itself as its dynamic agents constantly change. Once all movements are released, the entire piece will reveal the original order in which they are meant to be heard, when listened to back to back. In the fusion of the 5 elements meditation, the 8 forces are called upon in their heavenly order: Water, Fire, Thunder, Rain, Earth, Mountain, Wind & Sky. I invite you to slow down the ways that you listen to and integrate sensory information as it relates to your inner landscape and your experience of your environment in the earthly order, and their cosmic resonances in the heavenly order. If you wish to enter study mode, I recommend The Book of Changes -- or I Ching (English translation Hua-Ching Ni) -- as a companion to this journey. I offer commentaries, reflections and process documentation on social media (see story highlights @anaismaviel) as well as more detailed information via my newsletter.
Sean Webley, film-maker, visual artist and creative director of primitive collective, is working a moving image response to this music ever since hearing its live premiere at Roulette in 2021. With each movement's release comes a still from our work-in-progress collaboration, that will culminate in a multi-media installation and performance. This collaboration is drawing me to embody each of the 8 forces and how the body can be a vessel for archetypal expression. Be prepared for the experience to continue to expand, beyond the LP release which will include high quality prints of Sean's photographs.
Sean Webley, film-maker, visual artist and creative director of primitive collective, is working a moving image response to this music ever since hearing its live premiere at Roulette in 2021. With each movement's release comes a still from our work-in-progress collaboration, that will culminate in a multi-media installation and performance. This collaboration is drawing me to embody each of the 8 forces and how the body can be a vessel for archetypal expression. Be prepared for the experience to continue to expand, beyond the LP release which will include high quality prints of Sean's photographs.
The 8 forces fuse into 5 elements, embodied by Marina Kifferstein - violin, voice, Carrie Frey - viola, voice, Leah Asher - violin, voice, Meaghan Burke - cello, voice, and Anaïs Maviel - n’goni, voice, singing bowl, lyra, bells. As an ensemble of four composer-performers, The Rhythm Method strives to reimagine the string quartet in a contemporary, feminist context. I was blessed to find belonging with these 4 women with unique, distinct voices. I also confronted myself with the string quartet canon, while holding tight onto my n’goni (West African "harp of the young hunter"), lyra (Norwegian lyre) & singing bowl (sacred wavelengths made of 7 metals, in Nepal). The conversation between The Rhythm Method and I has been rich and complex: a true cross-cultural experience that got me healing my relationship to the Western cultural hegemony, and to own my multi-cultural, creolizing expressive truth. Writing for and developing a common language with these brilliant musicians, in conversation with multiple cultural layers, has tied listen to the rain to this specific combination of people.
Shortly after a live premiere in 2021, I received the invitation from Looking Glass Arts to record the piece in an old, unrestored barn, upstate New York. The room is gigantic, the wood, both thick and spongy, brings the string quartet’s sound closer to the ngoni’s muted tones. The holes in the walls let you hear traces of our surroundings: birds, people, motors…so called nature and culture. Recording engineer and bassist Rashaan Carter had a site-specific vision for documenting our process, and this is what we are now presenting to you: a place & time in the ongoing collaboration between The Rhythm Method and I, as this piece unfolds energetically. The music weaves improvisation with structural constraints for the players, making it inherently a work-in-progress.
Shortly after a live premiere in 2021, I received the invitation from Looking Glass Arts to record the piece in an old, unrestored barn, upstate New York. The room is gigantic, the wood, both thick and spongy, brings the string quartet’s sound closer to the ngoni’s muted tones. The holes in the walls let you hear traces of our surroundings: birds, people, motors…so called nature and culture. Recording engineer and bassist Rashaan Carter had a site-specific vision for documenting our process, and this is what we are now presenting to you: a place & time in the ongoing collaboration between The Rhythm Method and I, as this piece unfolds energetically. The music weaves improvisation with structural constraints for the players, making it inherently a work-in-progress.
interview with the moderns
listen to the rain
Excerpts from
listen to the rain
live premiere
Anaïs Maviel – composition, n’goni, singing bowl, voice
The Rhythm Method:
Leah Asher – violin, voice
Marina Kifferstein – violin, voice
Carrie Frey – viola, voice
Meaghan Burke – cello, voice
Tuçe Yasak – lighting
listen to the rain commission was facilitated by a grant from the American Composers Forum with funds provided by the Jerome Foundation. "mountain" is the only one movement for string quartet only. Please inquire for scores.
The Rhythm Method:
Leah Asher – violin, voice
Marina Kifferstein – violin, voice
Carrie Frey – viola, voice
Meaghan Burke – cello, voice
Tuçe Yasak – lighting
listen to the rain commission was facilitated by a grant from the American Composers Forum with funds provided by the Jerome Foundation. "mountain" is the only one movement for string quartet only. Please inquire for scores.