Based on a text by Anna AchmatowaInstrumentation: for twenty-five female voices in six groups from very high to very low register and a minimum of three male voices (bass solo)
Texts: Anna Achmatowa
This piece is based on a phonetic analysis of the voice of Achmatowa as she reads one of her own texts, and it is the musical rather than the semantic elements of Achmatowa's recitation that have been used. A cantus firmus-like line (male voices) defines the melody of her speech in a slow motion tempo. The six choir groups run "homophonically" and are a vertically "harmonious" splitting of the cantus firmus.
Commissioned by Pro Helvetia.
Duration: 60' 00"
SME/EMS