Morton Feldman: Three Voices

Edition Michael Frauenlob Bauer
Recorded 1984 at WDR, Cologne

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This composition from 1982 is scored for three soprano voices. Feldman specified that all parts be sung by one singer, meaning that one voice is performed live, while the other two have to be pre-recorded and played back via two speakers, one for each voice. The words used are from Frank O'Hara's poem "Wind", dedicated to Feldman.

Beth Griffith did a wonderful job on this recording, setting the overall tempo considerably slower than in some of the later released versions. Mediating a feel of unrest, it may not be the easiest listen among Feldman's later, longer pieces, but it's definitely a very interesting and unique one. "The variety of textures - heterophony, homophony, hocket, unison, fauxbourdon, coloratura, and a combination of pedal point with something that might best be described as 'voice-crossing on every note' - holds together an extremely delicate chromatic structure that recalls associations with close harmony as well as with the madrigals of Gesualdo."

- Paul van Emmerik in his liner notes of the LP.

... bad thoughts imprisoned in crystal

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