Vox Balaenae for three Masked Players

Composed in 1971, George Crumb’s ‘Vox Balaenae’ (‘The Voice of the Whale’) for ‘electric’ (amplified) flute, cello, and piano was inspired by recordings of whale song and considers, in typically theatrical manner, man’s relationship to nature. Crumb invites the performers to play wearing black half masks under blue lighting if possible. A contemporary music classic, this Edition Peters score is notable for its presentation of Crumb’s famous calligraphy. Three scores are required for performance.