Cinque variazione is a composition for solo piano by Luciano Berio

Luciano Berio

Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...

, written in 1952/3 and greatly revised in 1966. It was published by Suvini Zerboni

Suvini Zerboni

Suvini Zerboni Italian music publishing house founded in 1907 in Milan, taking its name from the theater society of the same name. The ESZ catalogue included, besides operetta favourites, the best of Italian contemporary music, such composers as Goffredo Petrassi, Luigi Dallapiccola, Luciano...

 and the first performance was given by Berio in Milan

Milan

Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...

 in 1953. The variations are based on a three-note melodic cell—"fratello"—from the opera Il prigioniero by Luigi Dallapiccola

Luigi Dallapiccola

Luigi Dallapiccola was an Italian composer known for his lyrical twelve-tone compositions.-Biography:Dallapiccola was born at Pisino d'Istria , to Italian parents....

, to whom the work is dedicated . Major changes between the two versions are indicated below, but many other small changes may be found, mostly additions to render the harmony

Harmony

In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...

 more complex.

• First variation: calmo e flessibile. No theme
  Theme (music)
  In music, a theme is the material, usually a recognizable melody, upon which part or all of a composition is based.-Characteristics:A theme may be perceivable as a complete musical expression in itself, separate from the work in which it is found . In contrast to an idea or motif, a theme is...
  
   is stated in this piece. Like Webern
  Anton Webern
  Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
  
  's piano Variations a twelve-tone row stated at the beginning stands in for a theme. The first variation remains largely within the ppp
  Dynamics (music)
  In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
  
  -pppp range. It begins with a series of major ninth
  Ninth
  In music, a ninth is a compound interval consisting of an octave plus a second.Like the second, the interval of a ninth is classified as a dissonance in common practice tonality. Since a ninth is a larger than a second, its sonority level is considered less dense.-Major ninth:A major ninth is a...
  
  s (the number nine plays a significant role in the structure of the piece) and gradually gains in rhythmic and harmonic complexity.
• Second variation: (quarter note) poco meno del (eighth note) precedente. Mostly built on a sharp dotted motif but rapidly gains in speed and density, building up to a fff
  Dynamics (music)
  In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
  
   climax
  Climax
  - Common general uses :* Climax * Climax * Climax community* Climax vegetation in an ecosystem* Sexual climax, another term for orgasm- Brand names and titles :* The Climax, a 1944 film...
  
  .
• Third variation: prestissimo (e ben articulato). Fragments of motifs thrown around with rests and accents. A short cadenza
  Cadenza
  In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
  
   (dotted quarter=104) intervenes (the designation "cadenza" is taken out in the revised version). Finally, a coda
  Coda (music)
  Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
  
   prestissimo, rapidly building up from very soft to extremely loud, closes this variation (the word "coda" is removed in the revised version).
• Fourth variation: legatissimo e volante. Beginning pppp, with rapid, highly chromatic scale
  Chromatic scale
  The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone apart. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the half steps are the same size...
  
   passages (sometimes divided between the hands) and fragments of motifs tossed around. Builds to several climaxes. The bottom score of page 13 and the first two scores of page 14 are new to the revised version.
• Fifth variation: calmo. Return to the pensive mood of the first variation, but with an intensely lyrical
  Lyrical
  The term lyrical may mean:*Lyrics, or words in songs*Lyrical dance, a style of dancing*Emotional, expressing strong feelings*Lyric poetry, poetry that expresses a subjective, personal point of view...
  
   melody
  Melody
  A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
  
  set among a large number of ornaments. The original version of the piece lacks almost all of these ornaments and is rhythmically far more simple and static (all the nontuplets are only found in the revised version).
• Coda: Return to the stationary, ninth-dominated motives of the start, mostly in the ppp range with much pedal.