Winston Tong - Miserere

Miserere is a soundtrack album by Winston Tong, the cult performance artist who made his name as a member of experimental group Tuxedomoon.

The score was composed in 1985 for a modern ballet staged by Belgian choreographer Pierre Droulers, based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Miserere translates as 'have mercy', or 'have pity'. The lyrics were written by Tong, and the music a collaboration with Persian-born dancer and vocalist Sussan Deyhim.

Miserere employs voices alone, and no instruments at all. The effect is both eerie and seductive, and always hypnotic. Closer in tone to Tong's meditative cycle Like the Others (1982) than his polished pop album Theoretically Chinese (1985), Miserere is now revealed as a major work, which for many years was thought to have been lost.

The CD booklet includes Tong's poetic texts for Miserere, as well as images from the stage performance.

Tracklist:

1. Prologue
2. Orpheo Walks
3. Vicious Circle
4. Song
5. Lovers
6. Soliloquy
7. Metropolises
8. Cobalt Room
9. In Turning
10. Penumbra
11. Egypt
12. The Way to Me
13. Burdens of Passion
14. Beyond
15. Miserere
16. Compassion