Shira Kammen
Ancient string melodies that feel pulled from a medieval forest. Intimate, scholarly, and deeply peaceful music for quiet contemplation and natural settings.
Ancient string melodies that feel pulled from a medieval forest. Intimate, scholarly, and deeply peaceful music for quiet contemplation and natural settings.
Shira Kammen creates music that feels less like a performance and more like a discovery. Using ancient instruments like the vielle and rebec, she bridges the gap between the formal rigor of medieval music and the earthy, improvisational spirit of traditional folk. The sound is characterized by the woody resonance of bowed strings and a sense of vast, open space, often recorded in locations that emphasize natural acoustics.
What sets her apart is her versatility and her deep connection to the outdoors. Whether she is performing on a river rafting trip or contributing to a high-profile video game soundtrack, her playing maintains a specific kind of 'living history' quality. It is academic in its precision but deeply emotional in its delivery, avoiding the stiffness often associated with early music in favor of a vibrant, breathing texture.
Start with 'Music of Waters' to hear her unique blend of nature-inspired themes and ancient instrumentation. It serves as a perfect gateway into her world, showcasing how she uses centuries-old techniques to capture the timeless feeling of the natural world.
Shira Kammen is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. She received her degree in music from the University of California, Berkeley and studied vielle with Margriet Tindemans. She has performed and taught throughout the world and has played on several television and movie soundtracks, including "O", a modern high school-setting of Othello. Her music was also licensed for the soundtrack of the video game Braid. She currently lives in El Cerrito, California.
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