Jenni has written two operas (both commissioned by Lontano).
The Descent of Inanna (first performance 1992) uses ECSTATIC FREE VOICE
Siddhartha Spirit Child (first perf 2001) uses IMPROVISING DUDUK – a wooden flute from Armenia
She has also made a short music film for BBC2 (see second video below).
In this first video posted below you can hear Jenni singing in a presentation about her first opera in what might be named ecstatic free voice. This kind of singing is like the other side of the coin from Vocal Tai Chi – which came originally from a totally contemplative state. However – it could be said that you can’t have one voice – without the other…
This is a documentary about the opera The Descent of Inanna and includes twelve songs from the show plus interviews and discussions about the music, the history of twentieth century music as well as much material on the meaning of the work and it’s cultural context – ancient Sumer, modern Iraq.
Featuring Opera Factory’s mezzo soprano Marie Angel, English National Opera’sAlex Ingram, conductor and rising star vocal musician Maria Jadardottir as well as Jenni talking about the project.
This second video is a fifteen minute film commissioned by the Arts Council and BBC2 for After Image Productions director Jane Thorburn in collaboration with Jenni as composer.
It features the amazing voices of Sianed Jones andMike Henry.
