Sequenza III

Sequenza III is a 1965 composition for a solo female voice by Luciano Berio, part of Sequenza, a series of works for solo instruments begun in 1958. Sequenza III was inspired by the virtuoso voice of Berio's former wife, Cathy Berberian. Berio set a short text in English by Markus Kutter, partly fragmented into words, syllables and sounds of vowels and consonants. He used the voice not only for singing but many other vocal sounds, creating a form of musical theatre. The work was first performed by Berberian in 1966 and published by Universal Edition the same year.