Music / Compositions

Five Poems of C. P. Cavafy

1980 · Alto and ensemble · (34')

Status: Archival work · materials limited

Overview

Brief contextual summary of the work.

For
Alto and ensemble
Composed
1980
Duration
34 minutes
Premiere
University of Keele

Recording: Christine Bryan (alto) and the Keele New Music Ensemble, directed by Roger Marsh · University of Keele (1980)

Notes

This piece contains the following numbers:

  • Body, remember... (alto, glockenspiel, vibraphone and marimba)
  • A Old Man (alto, two cellos)
  • Candles (alto, piano)
  • Long Ago (alto, electric guitar)
  • The God Abandons Antony (alto wearing headphones through which plays music by Harry Partch)

There is a theatrical element: the singer wears a white suit and hat, while the ensemble wears black. Members of the ensemble leave the stage after each number, leaving the singer alone for the final number. The singer sings that number without being able to hear herself because of the loud music playing through the headphones. These are then removed at the end and the music fades up so that the audience can hear it too.