Speechwalls is the first installment in an ongoing collection of textless solo and chamber pieces inspired by the poetry of Paul Celan. Also included in this series are: “Ice, Eden” (2001) for piccolo and flute, “Zeitlöcher” (2003) for trumpet and accordion, “…and no kind of peace” (2004) for solo bass trombone, and “Word-Shadows” (2006) for string trio. Additional works are planned.

Speechwalls takes as its motto a poem by the same name by Celan and incorporates structural elements in the poem as time points in the musical framework:

“SPEECHWALLS, space inwards—
spooled in upon yourself,
you holler yourself through all the way to the lastwall.

The fogs are burning.

The heat hangs itself inside you.”

-Paul Celan (from Fadensonnen) [Translation by Pierre Joris]

Audio Sample(s):

Speechwalls - Excerpt 1 (opening 0:42) (mp3 format)

(Credits: Alberto Grossi, oboe)