notes on desire (2003-2006)

Lynn Book first presented “notes on desire” in concert with collaborator drummer, percussionist and composer, Kevin Norton, in 2003 at Roulette, New York City. Initiated out of Book’s notes, writings, and composition ideas on her longstanding investigation of states of desire – from bodily erotism to material consumption – the duo created new musical and sonic environments, with Book on voice, electronics and sound effects. A thematically coherent assemblage of 8 discreet works found form in “bird” with Norton on vibraphone and Book hovering between extended sound and impressionistic words, and “blink”, a driving rant text by Book written on September 10, 2001 and in the post 9-11 Iraq war days.

Valeria Vasilevski directed this performative concert in collaboration with Book, whose creative works often involved distinct image-based, physical stagings. Vasilevski also directed Book at the Kitchen for the final iteration of “Gorgeous Fever” (1997). Book performed several works at Roulette from the early 90s to 2007 an important New York City (and now Brooklyn) venue for contemporary new and experimental music. Other performances of “notes on desire” included a solo version by Book at the Bowery Poetry Club, NYC and with a small ensemble at Wake Forest University in 2006, including Jacqui Carrasco on violin (also collaborating with Book in the “Regarding Next” project) and Joe Morgan, electronics, with a cameo appearance by Mark Linga on accordion. Book and Norton performed iterations of “notes on desire” in Chicago at Hothouse and the Michiana Festival, Michigan in July, 2003. Book later recorded some of these works and/or used excerpts from live recordings of the Roulette concert on her 2009 self-published CD, “voicing bodies”.