Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Elegy

Compose Date

:

Jun 5, 1909

Publication Date

:

1909

First Performance

:

Mar 1910

Average_duration

:

4:50

Ferruccio Busoni's 'Berceuse, for piano (Elegies No. 7), KiV 252' is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that was composed in 1909. The piece was premiered in the same year in Berlin, Germany. The 'Berceuse' is part of a larger collection of works called 'Elegies', which Busoni composed between 1907 and 1909. The 'Elegies' are a series of ten pieces for piano that are characterized by their melancholic and introspective nature. Each piece in the collection is dedicated to a different person, and the 'Berceuse' is dedicated to the memory of Busoni's mother. The 'Berceuse' is a slow and gentle lullaby that is meant to evoke feelings of comfort and peace. The piece is written in the key of E-flat major and is in 6/8 time. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a gentle rocking motion that is reminiscent of a mother rocking her child to sleep. The 'Berceuse' is divided into three distinct sections or movements. The first section is marked 'Andante con moto', which means 'slowly, with motion'. This section sets the tone for the piece and establishes the gentle rocking motion that is present throughout. The second section is marked 'Poco più mosso', which means 'a little more movement'. This section introduces a new melody that is slightly more complex than the first. The melody is still gentle and soothing, but there is a sense of urgency and restlessness that is introduced. The final section is marked 'Tempo I', which means 'return to the original tempo'. This section returns to the original melody and tempo of the first section. The piece ends with a gentle fade-out, as if the child has finally fallen asleep. Overall, the 'Berceuse' is a beautiful and poignant piece of music that is both comforting and melancholic. It is a fitting tribute to Busoni's mother and a testament to the power of music to evoke emotion and memory.

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