Berg: : First Movement

Alban Berg’s Lyric Suite clearly shows many characteristics of his music. The work is a with six movements alternating between fast and slow tempos. It is rather freely based on several different tone rows.

First Movement: Allegretto gioviale (rather fast and jovial); Binary form The opening movement begins with a very brief chordal introduction. This is followed by the first , which is presented as the main theme by the first . In the usual manner of serialist composers, Berg indicated this phrase and certain others with the H—, meaning Hauptstimme, or principal part. He also used the symbol N—, meaning Nebenstimme, or second part. These marks were added to help performers see more quickly and easily which parts to emphasize. A second, more tranquil thematic statement, also derived from the row, follows. Thereafter, both thematic materials are freely recapitulated, resulting in binary (AA’) form. The movement closes with a brief coda. While the use of the tone row is sometimes obvious in the first movement, it is more often hidden in contrapuntal and chordal passages. Both conjunct and disjunct motion are heard, with greater stress on the latter. Rhythmic patterns are quite varied and changing, and the meter alternates rather frequently between 4/4 and 2/4. The texture is largely contrapuntal, with the four instruments of the string quartet often moving independently of one another. A wealth of performance directions are given in the score, with special attention paid to dynamics. The other five movements are entitled “Andante amoroso,” “Allegro misterioso,” Adagio appassionato,” Presto delirando,” and “Largo desolato.” The descriptive movement markings reflect the very expressive qualities of the music. While the movements are organized rather clearly and traditionally in sections, melody and harmony are organized serially in a fresh, at times very dramatic, manner.

Timber: String quartet Melody: Largely disjunct; derived from tone row Rhythm: meter alternates between 4/4 and 2/4; tempo Allegro gioviale (rather fast and jovial) Harmony: Atonal, derived from various forms of the tone row and their use Form: Binary (AA’)

Questions

1. The performing group is a: a. String quartet b. Small orchestra 2. The meter is essentially: a. Triple b. Duple

3. The harmonic structure is: a. Atonal b. Tonal 4. The melodic lines are extremely: a. Conjunct b. Disjunct 5. The form is: a. Binary b. Ternary

Matching

6. Timbre_____ A. Binary (AA’)

7. Melody_____ B. String quartet

8. Rhythm_____ C. Atonal

9. Harmony_____ D. Largely disjunct

10. Form_____ E. Meter alternates between 4/4 and 2/4