Rediscoveries
for Multiple Voices
2025
A rediscovery is the "finding or remembering of some thing or someone again after losing or forgetting about them for a long time" (Cambridge Dictionary). To rediscover can also mean to reveal something hidden with something familiar, obtain (get something back), or a return to a previous situation or idea in a new way. Within the word 'Rediscovery' is the word 'cover'. Apart from meaning a protection or concealment, in music a 'cover version' refers to a remake, reinterpretation or revival of an existing song. A darker meaning refers to white musicians in the 20th century copying an original song by a black musician which in doing so, conceal the authorship of the original black version.
Rediscoveries for Multiple Voices is a collection of songs alluding to the above etymological roots and definitions linked to the word "rediscovery". In their most general sense, these songs are"covers" of original versions. However, they are also reinterpretations that bring out new associations and discover new meanings. In this way, they repurpose the original songs by placing them into new contexts. In music there are many examples where one piece of music repurposes or responds to a previously written music composition creating a type of recontextualisation. A repurposing of existing material can include the quodlibet, parody mass from the Renaissance period, mashup, remix, hip hop, satirical and humorous songs which change the lyrics of an existing song for critical, political or theatrical effect, or the arrangement. Each of these adopts a different relationship between the original and the repurposed music.
The music presented here adopts a multitude of textures and approaches for musical repurposing. Sitting somewhere between the musical arrangement, paraphrase and collage, the repurposing includes contrapuntal techniques, various types of melodic elaboration, musical quotation or variation strategies. The textures and styles allude to the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque periods and more modern times. While these songs can be grouped under the general title "Meta-music" (music about music), the intertextual relationships resulting from the juxtaposition of various song texts make the term rediscovery an appropriate choice in describing their intention.
Note: these songs use voice samples from the Note performer plug in.
Both sides now (Lyrics)
Based on Joni Mitchell's song Both sides now. Harmonically the song uses extended jazz harmonies (9ths, 11th's and 13ths). The melody from Both sides now is treated as a type of cantus firmus embedded within polyphonic settings alluding to the Parody Mass form and 15th century Flemish polyphony. The piano repeatedly hovers around the contrapuntal textures, reminiscent of clouds as they circle the earth
Desire and Hope (Lyrics)
Based on Desire by Ryan Adams and Puccini's Humming Chorus. Original music by Richard Vella. This repurpose combines two poems 'Hope is a thing with feathers' and 'To wait an hour is long' by Emily Dickinson, the lyrics from 'Desire' by Ryan Adams, Puccini's Humming Chorus with an original song by Richard Vella called 'Time is an endless road'. It juxtaposes the themes of desire and hope with the theme of time.
Bridges (Lyrics)
This repurpose combines excerpts from Bridge over troubled Water by Paul Simon, a musical setting of the poem 'Faith is the pierless bridge' by Emily Dickinson, with an original song and text at the beginning by Richard Vella titled 'Songs are bridges'. Bridges sings about the belief we have in a song's ability to express humanity, but sadly many songs get forgotten. The music alludes to the medieval melody and drone form, gospel, and Baroque polyphony. The drone used in this recording is played by a Tibetan singing bowl
. . . because of Aristotle (Lyrics)
Original music by Richard Vella with a quotation of the song It's because I love you (1971) by Jim Keays & Doug Ford from the band The Master's Apprentices. Referring to Bluegrass music at the beginning, the lyrics for this song are about reconciling one's daily actions with the ethics of Aristotle and what it means to be a good person. The reference to the chorus of the song 'It's because I love you' transforms the music into a quasi Hallelujah chorus alluding to the polyphonic style of Palestrina.
The following works were composed for various contexts. They are included here as there are many similarities to the theme of rediscovery and repurposing.
Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix, arranged R.Vella) 2008
Composed for the semi-final of The Battle of the Choirs contest, broadcasted by Channel 7. Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix is repurposed with split choirs with up to 10 part counterpoint. The arrangement had to be 90 seconds in duration. The broadcasted semi-final performance can be heard here.
Water Va/Pensiero (Guiseppe Verdi, Richard Vella) 2003.
Composed for The Ten Tenors album Larger than Life (Warners). The song remixes an original Country song by Richard Vella with Verdi's Va, pensiero.
Frozen (Henry Purcell, Richard Vella) 2002
Composed for Tales of Love. Frozen mixes gospel with Purcell's 'What power art thou' from his opera King Arthur. For more information, click here.
original version
(2002)
Sung by Didier Frederic (Baritone) and Karen Cummings (Soprano) with the Seymour Group ensemble.
Multiple voice version
using Note performer
plug voice samples
(1st draft 2025)
Crying (Roy Orbison, arranged R.Vella) 2015
Roy Orbison's song Crying is immersed within allusions to the polyphonic textures of the Baroque era. Recording uses vocal samples from the Note Performer plug in.
Earlier examples