Kite Symphony, Four Variations LP artist edition

Ballroom Marfa is proud to present 'Kite Symphony, Four Variations' by Roberto Carlos Lange (widely known by his stage moniker, Helado Negro), based on graphic scores created in collaboration with visual artist Kristi Sword.

Guided by Sword’s dynamic and rhythmic graphic notations–visual representations of music through symbols outside the world of traditional music notation–these four music compositions freely explore the lightness of ephemeral moments in the elements, encouraging the listener to meditate on their immediate surroundings.

Lange joined forces with electro-acoustic composer Rob Mazurek, and violist Jeanann Dara, on these pieces using a variety of collaborative sound-making techniques. The new compositions were recorded at Marfa Recording Company while Lange and Sword were in residence in Marfa working on 'Kite Symphony,' a new, non-linear, and impressionistic film, live score, and body of sculptural work that explores the landscape of Chihuahuan Desert through wind, sound, and light. The artists took the opportunity to delve deeper into their collaborative practice and expand their vision of 'Kite Symphony' through this collection of music.

Lange describes the 'Four Variations' as a collection of impressionistic sound pieces and invites the listener to open their ears to the sky, the sound of cacti, and the feeling of the wind on their skin.

Roberto Carlos Lange – Moog Grandmother synthesizer, field recordings, pigeon flute, piano, Teenage Engineering OP1, vibraphone, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, organ, happy gourd, and computer-processed sounds.

Kristi Sword – Happy Gourd, field recordings, graphic scores

Additional Musicians:
Rob Mazurek – Piccolo Trumpet, Electronics
Jeanann Dara – Viola

Recorded at Marfa Recording Company, Marfa, TX
Mastered by Rachel Alina
Graphic scores by Kristi Sword
Design by Crystal Zapata

Commissioned by Ballroom Marfa
Organized by Ballroom Marfa Programs Director Sarah Melendez

Kite Symphony is made possible by the generous support of The Brown Foundation, Inc.; City of Marfa; Fairfax Dorn & Marc Glimcher; Virginia Lebermann & Family; Lebermann Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Ballroom Marfa Board of Trustees; the Ballroom Marfa International Surf Club; and Ballroom Marfa members.

Special thanks to Valerie Arber, Cashiola Bros., Jeanann Dara, Meghan Gherety, Virginia Lebermann, Minerva Lopez, Gory Smelley, Derek Walin, Michael Wallace. And to our friends at The Chinati Foundation, Judd Foundation, Marfa Public Radio.