Sounds of Effort

Abstract

Abstract Chapter 4 analyzes effortful vocalizations as music. Invoking Schusterman’s somaesthetics, the connection is made between sounded effort in music and sounds that can occur during sex. A classification of sounded effort is divided into climactic and intimate exertions. The first group is illustrated via Nézet-Séguin’s exultant holler at a formal apotheosis in music by Tchaikovsky, Casals’s tense moaning during a climactic cadence in music by Schumann, and Say’s “grunt lead” while recording music by Liszt. The category of subtle vocalizing is illustrated when Chase records Lim, Grimaud records Beethoven, and Kissin records Schubert. An extreme case of unwritten music is provided by Valdettaro’s thoroughgoing growl while recording music by Kodály. Solti’s moans define phrase boundaries in a recording of music by Mahler. Field’s “archive of absence” provokes an extended meditation on the role of grunts in the case of Joyce Hatto.