Composer

:

John Cage

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1934

Average_duration

:

5:02

Composition for Three Voices is a musical piece composed by John Cage in 1934. It was premiered on May 15, 1934, at the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle, Washington. The piece consists of three movements, each of which is characterized by a different vocal technique. The first movement is titled "The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs" and is based on a text by James Joyce. The vocalist is instructed to sing the text with closed lips, producing a humming sound. The result is a haunting, ethereal quality that is both eerie and beautiful. The second movement, "Nowth Upon Nacht," is based on a text by the medieval Irish poet Aengus O'Daly. The vocalist is instructed to sing the text in a high-pitched, nasal voice, reminiscent of a traditional Irish sean-nós singer. The effect is both otherworldly and deeply emotional. The third and final movement, "The Bedroom," is based on a text by Gertrude Stein. The vocalist is instructed to speak the text in a monotone voice, with no inflection or emotion. The effect is a kind of deadpan humor that is both absurd and strangely compelling. Overall, Composition for Three Voices is a groundbreaking work that pushed the boundaries of what was considered music at the time. Cage's use of unconventional vocal techniques and his incorporation of literary texts into the piece were highly innovative and influential. The piece remains a classic of 20th-century music and a testament to Cage's unique vision and creativity.

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