A departure from the usual electronic leanings, as 4-4-2 Music begins to truly branch out, and we are proud to present these 2 tracks of improvised zither tones. The tracks relate to mourning, the Alps, romanticism, Webern...

Death III is made playing what are known as an elegie concert zither and a prime concert zither simultaneously. Concert zithers are also know as Alpine zithers; they're difficult, have a fingerboard with frets on one side. The elegie is a bit longer; the one in this recording is from around 1860 and was made by a relatively well-known German violin maker. The prime is probably from around 1900-1920. Both needed repairs. Death V is made playing the elegie alone.

The processing done on the tracks has been hiss removal (which also change timbre), echo, some hard limiting. The pieces, taken from a larger suite of 5 tracks, were played in order, and composed on the spot; there was only one take for each, which is Sondheim's usual way of proceeding; it emphasizes the exploratory nature of music, as well as its relation to labour and the body.

The 4-4-2 Music e-Single of the Month Club brings you a virtual 7" record every month featuring quirky oddities and genre escapees. If you would like to contribute to the e-Single of the Month Club, write to contact@4-4-2music.com.

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