Composer

:

Luciano Berio

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Open Form

Compose Date

:

1965 - 1966

Average_duration

:

7:56

Sequenza III is a solo piece for female voice composed by Luciano Berio in 1965. It was premiered in Milan in the same year by Cathy Berberian, for whom the piece was written. The piece is divided into five movements, each exploring different vocal techniques and styles. The first movement, marked "very fast and nervous," features rapid, staccato syllables and fragmented phrases. The second movement, marked "slow and expressive," is more lyrical and melodic, with long sustained notes and a more legato style. The third movement, marked "fast and virtuosic," is a tour de force of vocal acrobatics, with rapid runs, trills, and leaps. The fourth movement, marked "slow and expressive," returns to the more lyrical style of the second movement, but with a more contemplative and introspective mood. The final movement, marked "very fast and nervous," brings the piece to a frenzied and energetic conclusion, with rapid, staccato syllables and a sense of urgency and intensity. Berio's use of extended vocal techniques in Sequenza III is particularly notable. The piece requires the performer to use a wide range of vocal sounds, including whispers, screams, whispers, and glottal stops, as well as more traditional singing techniques such as vibrato and legato. The piece also incorporates elements of improvisation, with the performer given some freedom to interpret and embellish the score. Overall, Sequenza III is a challenging and innovative work that showcases the versatility and expressive potential of the human voice. Its premiere by Cathy Berberian helped to establish her as one of the foremost interpreters of contemporary vocal music, and the piece remains a staple of the contemporary vocal repertoire.

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