Alban Berg: Three Pieces for Orchestra
Context
Composed between 1913-15, Alban Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra were dedicated to his teacher at the time, Arnold Schoenberg. The premiere of the first two pieces of the suite were premiered in Berlin in June 1923, conducted by Anton Webern. The full suite was premiered, in its revised form, in April 1930. Three very different pieces in this suite convey the ever-changing stylings and influences on a young Berg.
Marsch (March)
The final piece, and also the longest piece of the suite, is a huge artistic march that spans over 10 minutes. There has been much likening this piece to the stylings of Schoenberg and Mahler, with the idea of grotesque humour still rife. From the start many different rhythms play out from across the woodwind and the strings. Similarly to the other pieces, the March goes through a number of highs and lows as it finds its feet throughout. The quiet sections are delicate in their handling amongst the orchestra, with the loud climactic sections often led by the brass and percussion for dramatic effect. The big orchestral swells are made even more alarming by huge statements that are full of twinkling percussion that pierce through the texture. The busyness of this movement is what keeps the music interesting, as the listener is never quite sure where the music will go next.
The feeling of a march is heard in fragments throughout, and they are often triggered by the percussion. Any sort of regimented rhythmic drive takes us to that place, but they are always fleeting, with Berg plunging the music back into the rich and chaotic textures. The orchestra goes deathly quiet in the run up to the end of the piece, that is until the brass burst into a fanfare with no prior notice. As the horns, trombones and trumpets reach the climax, the piece is over, and the suite has concluded.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
You might also enjoy… Alban Berg: Three Pieces for Orchestra (Mvt II)
Recommended Recordings:
0 Comments