Concerning “Sprechgesang”

Extract

In part III of Schönberg's Gurrelieder there is a section, Des Somtnenvindes wilde Jagd, that is described as a “melodrama” and that constitutes the only appearance in the work of the character listed among the soloists as “The Speaker.” The words of this number are written under what would appear to be a normal vocal line (though perhaps of rather unusually simple nature), except that crosses are used instead of note-heads:

There are no directions in the score as to how the part is to be rendered.