De Profundis (Rzewski)

Work for speaking pianist (1992) by Frederic Rzewski, setting passages from Oscar Wilde's prison letter 'De Profundis' (1897). The pianist simultaneously plays and recites the text across eight sections, each preceded by a purely instrumental prelude. The work draws on both the tradition of the melodrama (spoken text with piano accompaniment) and the experimental performing tradition of pianist-composers such as Cage and Cardew, while its emotional world is deeply personal and humanistic. Duration approximately 75-80 minutes.

The speaking must be natural and direct, not theatrical in a stagy sense: Rzewski described the ideal as someone telling a story to a small group of listeners. The piano music should never overwhelm the text. The pianist needs exceptional multitasking ability, as speaking and playing simultaneously requires separate concentration on text memory, piano technique, and physical coordination.