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.
The Music
Reigen (Round Dance)
The second piece, inspired loosely on waltz and traditional Ländler music, is a prime example of Berg inspiring the old and the new. The angular movements of the main theme paired with a grotesque style that picks out soloists that grate against the orchestra. The climax of the piece sees the first tutti section driven by a single rhythm; this adds some relief to the piece, as it spends most of the time creating pandemonium within the ensemble. The lighter quiet sections are laden with innovative harmonic language that Berg became well known for. His orchestrations, similarly to the first piece, are unique and eclectic, which seamlessly adds his personal voice into the music. Reigen ends with a pulsating figure that is somewhat relieved by long notes held by the trumpets.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
You might also enjoy… Arnold Schoenberg: String Quartet No.2
Recommended Recordings:
0 Comments