Geographical Fugue

E770723

Geographical Fugue is a pioneering 1930 vocal composition by Ernst Toch that creates a rhythmic, almost percussive effect using only spoken text instead of traditional singing.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf choral work
vocal composition
composer Ernst Toch NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin Germany
creatorNationality Austrian
dateOfComposition 1930
doesNotUse traditional singing
EnglishTextAdapter unknown
firstPublicationLanguage German
genre speech chorus
hasEnglishVersion yes
hasForm canon-like entries
imitative counterpoint
hasMedium choir
spoken voices
hasReputation comic effect in performance
virtuosic tongue-twister
includedIn 20th-century choral repertoire
influenced later speech-chorus techniques
inMusicHistory early example of purely spoken choral piece
isFrequentlyPerformedBy amateur choirs
professional vocal ensembles
university choirs
isPartOfComposerOutput Ernst Toch choral works
language German
movementOf Gesprochene Musik NERFINISHED
notableFor percussive vocal effect
rhythmic spoken chorus
numberOfVoices 4
originalTitle Fuge aus der Geographie NERFINISHED
performancePractice often performed a cappella
spoken in strict rhythm
period 20th-century music
relatedWork Gesprochene Musik (Spoken Music) NERFINISHED
requires accurate rhythmic coordination
precise diction
structure fugue
style avant-garde
experimental
tempoIndication very fast
textSubject cities
countries
geographical features
geographical names
uses spoken text
voiceTypes mixed choir

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ernst Toch notableWork Geographical Fugue