Composer

:

Luciano Berio

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1973-1975

Average_duration

:

14:43

"Cries of London" is a composition for eight voices and orchestra by Italian composer Luciano Berio. It was composed in 1973 and premiered on October 18, 1974, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, conducted by Berio himself. The piece is divided into six movements, each of which is based on a different street vendor's cry heard in London during the 18th and 19th centuries. The movements are titled "First," "Second," "Third," "Fourth," "Fifth," and "Sixth," respectively. The first movement, "First," is based on the cry of a flower seller and features a solo soprano voice accompanied by the orchestra. The second movement, "Second," is based on the cry of a milkmaid and features a solo mezzo-soprano voice accompanied by the orchestra. The third movement, "Third," is based on the cry of a newspaper seller and features a solo tenor voice accompanied by the orchestra. The fourth movement, "Fourth," is based on the cry of a hot eel pie seller and features a solo baritone voice accompanied by the orchestra. The fifth movement, "Fifth," is based on the cry of a ballad seller and features a solo bass voice accompanied by the orchestra. The sixth and final movement, "Sixth," is based on the cry of a chair mender and features all eight voices singing together in a complex polyphonic texture. Berio's "Cries of London" is characterized by its use of extended vocal techniques, such as whispering, speaking, and shouting, as well as its incorporation of electronic sounds and recorded street noises. The piece also features a wide range of musical styles, from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary avant-garde techniques. Overall, "Cries of London" is a unique and innovative work that captures the sounds and spirit of a bygone era while pushing the boundaries of contemporary classical music.

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