This is a track from Deep End a cappella group The Swingles’ new album. It features the narative voice of Ward Swingle, the founder of the Swingle Singers who died earlier this year, relating the early history of the group.

This vocal arrangement is an interpretation of a Claude Debussy prelude for piano. Beyond the introduction and the spoken word section where the Swingles hover like a musical cloud behind Ward Swingle’s speaking voice it also includes a further passage of beautifully improvised iridescence from around the 3’28” mark by pianist John Taylor who died in July.

The Swingles play a London concert dedicated to Ward Swingle’s memory on 19 September. Details are here