February 9 - Alban Berg (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 9th are here: Alban Berg (2020) and Carmen Miranda (2021)

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Alban Berg (9 February 1885 – 24 December 1935) was a great Austrian composer mostly in atonal and serial styles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Thoughts on the Berg Violin Concerto

(1)

There are patrons who stand up and cheer it,

And others who’ll listen, but fear it,

And then, I suppose,

There are plenty of those

Who refuse to go anywhere near it.

(2)

The opening fifths are so stark

That it’s had to imagine an ark

That could sail though the oceans

Of disturbing emotions

On which we’re about to embark.

(3)

By stacking up third upon third

In a row that can really be heard,

He channeled his grief,

And he used the motif

In a hymn with the harmonies blurred.

(4)

When Bach, in a ghostly appearance,

Was asked for his copyright clearance,

He said, “I don’t mind,

For I’ve listened, and find

That it gives the concerto coherence.”

 

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