Songs of Ascension(2019)

Songs of Ascension is an experimental film by avant-garde composer and performer Meredith Monk, filmed at Ann Hamilton's Tower in Geyserville, California. The work captures Monk's distinctive vocal and movement practices in an intimate architectural setting. Shot roughly a decade before its release, the film blends performance art with site-specific cinema, showcasing Monk's innovative approach to sound and the human body. Her layered vocal textures and unconventional techniques create a meditative, often ethereal atmosphere. The tower location becomes integral to the piece, with its physical space shaping the acoustic and visual dimensions of the performance. Songs of Ascension stands as a document of experimental performance practice and Monk's enduring influence on contemporary music and movement art.