2011 - Geographical Fugue

‘Fuge aus der Geographie’ is the most famous piece for spoken chorus by Ernst Toch. Toch was a composer in 1920s Berlin, and he singlehandedly invented the idiom of the ‘spoken chorus’. The piece was a sensation when it was first performed in June 1930 as the 3rd movement of his suite ‘Gesprochene Musik’ (Spoken Music), and remains till now Toch’s most-performed work. Originally written in German, it was later translated into English under the auspices of John Cage and Henry Cowell.

[@TheHoffy59]

I am so glad they didn't rush this. So many choirs speed through this and it sounds horrible

[@AleciaHBOP]

I agree. They are great. I performed this in the late 1960s at the NYC World's Fair with the DC Youth Chorale. We were great and everyone loved it. It can not be rushed. Then taught it to a summer youth camp and everyone loved it. I still have my sheet music. I listened to one of the groups on youTube before this and they were rushing through it and you could not make out what they were saying

[@lyricjay1]

Totally agree. It took my chorus quite some time to nail it, and they were pretty good readers-perhaps!

[@dennisestessr918]

Me, Kerry, and Mrs Sainato used to sing this in Lakemore, OH back in '83. LOL

[@square-on-wheels]

Very well done!

[@fredtielie3069]

yes very amazing

[@massimilianopomare963]

Amazing

[@stevecharman8420]

Sounds a lot better at X 1.75 speed

[@keybawd4023]

This works better with four voices only,. With a large number, the details becomes fuzzy.

[@lyricjay1]

Therein lies the challenge, among others

[@robertdehlinger6531]

I think it was written as a choral number?

[@massimilianopomare963]

metronomi