It was composed for The King's Singers, an all-male British vocal ensemble whose programmes offered some elements from cabaret in them.

The whole piece consisted of four movements scored for six voices (two countertenors, one tenor, two baritones, and one bass) and was premiered in Edinburgh in 1975.

[5] This song cycle consists of seven movements of unequal length and is scored for eight voices: two sopranos, two altos, two tenors and two basses.

[2] Berio used some extended vocal techniques in this cycle, which include heavy breathing, humming and singing with the front teeth closed.

[2] The singers are also expected to sing "instrumentally", without vibrato, although it calls for highly virtuosistic abilities from the performers.