Practicing Sands is a collection of pieces by Chinese-American composer, cellist, and vocalist Theresa Wong, which draws inspiration from the sounds of the natural world and sensations of Wong’s sonic genetic memory. With alternate tunings and extended techniques, Wong has forged a timbral merging of cello and voice into a totally unique synthesis. Combining improvisation and composition, these works stem from Wong’s ongoing question: “how can I rediscover the core of the cello as wood and string and hair, or even simply as a tree?” Self-recorded over three months, these recordings document Wong’s personal approach to microphone placement and technique as extensions of composition itself. Utilizing various microphone configurations to define the spectral and spatial quality of each piece, she invites the listener into an embodied experience of her music as haptic vibrational sculptures. Practicing Sands was released September 14, 2022 and is available as a digital download / CD at fo’c’sle records.

Download EPK

Credits

Produced, recorded, mixed and designed by Theresa Wong
Recorded at Casa Ninja in Berkeley, California April-June, 2020
Mastered by Myles Boisen at Headless Buddha Mastering Lab, Oakland, California
Title from poem 320 by Emily Dickinson
Special thanks to Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Fred Frith, and Myles Boisen
Contact: tree_wong@yahoo.com