Composer

:

Alban Berg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1902

Average_duration

:

1:33

"Über den Berg" is a composition for voice and piano by Alban Berg, composed in 1907. The piece was premiered in Vienna in 1908, with the composer himself accompanying the singer. The work consists of three movements, each of which is characterized by its own unique musical language and emotional content. The first movement, marked "Sehr langsam" (very slow), is a mournful and introspective meditation on death and the afterlife. The piano sets the mood with a series of somber chords, while the singer intones a text that speaks of the soul's journey beyond the grave. The music is spare and austere, with long stretches of silence punctuated by brief bursts of melody. The second movement, marked "Sehr rasch" (very fast), is a wild and frenzied dance that seems to embody the chaotic energy of life itself. The piano sets a driving rhythm, while the singer delivers a text that celebrates the joys and sorrows of existence. The music is full of sudden shifts in tempo and mood, with moments of exuberant celebration giving way to passages of quiet reflection. The final movement, marked "Langsam" (slow), is a tender and nostalgic farewell to life and love. The piano sets a gentle, rocking rhythm, while the singer delivers a text that speaks of the beauty and fragility of human relationships. The music is full of lush harmonies and soaring melodies, with a sense of bittersweet longing that lingers long after the final notes have faded away. Overall, "Über den Berg" is a deeply personal and emotionally charged work that showcases Berg's mastery of both musical form and expressive content. The piece is a testament to the power of music to capture the full range of human experience, from the darkest depths of despair to the brightest heights of joy and love.

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