Tue, 15 Jun 1999 20:32:28 -0400
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A work that I've heard with and without speakers and liked, each in its own
way is Walton's *Facade*. My favorite spoken version is w/ Edith Sitwell
herself reciting the texts. I must admit that, in my own circle of
acquaintances, I've found nobody since my college days, who've listened to
this piece w/out snickering...and I'm talking about listeners of classical
music. Sitwell's recitations, perfectly enunciated, whether to a slow
lullaby or to a rapid patter song, dignifying all this deliberate nonsense
w/ appropriate emphases and expression when not putting the listener on w/
a deadpan monotone, are enthralling. One almost misses the fine music to
which she is reciting all this, until one gets a recording of the music
w/out the recitation.
Walter Meyer
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