Sequenza II
Encyclopedia
Sequenza II is a composition for unaccompanied harp
by the Italian composer Luciano Berio
. Written for and premiered by the French harpist Francis Pierre in 1963, it has since been performed and recorded by Frédérique Cambreling, Susan Jolles, and Claudia Antonelli, among others.
As with most of the Sequenze
, Berio sought to explore the timbral and expressive capabilities of the harp in the hands of a virtuoso musician. Because of this, Sequenza II defies many of the stereotypes associated with the harp. In the liner notes of the 1999 Ensemble InterContemporain
recording, Berio wrote of Sequenza II, "French impressionism has left us with a rather limited version of the harp, as if its most obvious characteristic were that of lending itself to the attention of loosely robed girls with long blond tresses, capable of drawing from it nothing more than seductive glissandi." Sequenza II has its share of glissandi, but also calls for harmonic
tones and extended techniques such as percussive effects (on the wooden body of the harp), as well as a virtuoso amount of pedal-shifting and an extreme sensitivity to rapid dynamic changes.
Sequenza II has been analyzed as a contrast between the linear aspects of music (i.e. melody
, counterpoint
) and the vertical aspects (i.e. chords
, percussion). For example, the opening flageolet melodies and glissandi have a much more linear character than the staccato
tone clusters and percussive knocks which occur later on.
In 1964 Berio composed Chemins I by adding an orchestra to Sequenza II.
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
by the Italian composer 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 for and premiered by the French harpist Francis Pierre in 1963, it has since been performed and recorded by Frédérique Cambreling, Susan Jolles, and Claudia Antonelli, among others.
As with most of the Sequenze
Sequenza
Sequenza is the name borne by fourteen compositions for solo instruments or voice by Luciano Berio. The word "sequenza" means "sequence" in Italian. The pieces, which often call for extended techniques, are:*Sequenza I Sequenza is the name borne by fourteen compositions for solo instruments or...
, Berio sought to explore the timbral and expressive capabilities of the harp in the hands of a virtuoso musician. Because of this, Sequenza II defies many of the stereotypes associated with the harp. In the liner notes of the 1999 Ensemble InterContemporain
Ensemble InterContemporain
The Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
recording, Berio wrote of Sequenza II, "French impressionism has left us with a rather limited version of the harp, as if its most obvious characteristic were that of lending itself to the attention of loosely robed girls with long blond tresses, capable of drawing from it nothing more than seductive glissandi." Sequenza II has its share of glissandi, but also calls for harmonic
Harmonic
A harmonic of a wave is a component frequency of the signal that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency, i.e. if the fundamental frequency is f, the harmonics have frequencies 2f, 3f, 4f, . . . etc. The harmonics have the property that they are all periodic at the fundamental...
tones and extended techniques such as percussive effects (on the wooden body of the harp), as well as a virtuoso amount of pedal-shifting and an extreme sensitivity to rapid dynamic changes.
Sequenza II has been analyzed as a contrast between the linear aspects of music (i.e. melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
) and the vertical aspects (i.e. chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
, percussion). For example, the opening flageolet melodies and glissandi have a much more linear character than the staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
tone clusters and percussive knocks which occur later on.
In 1964 Berio composed Chemins I by adding an orchestra to Sequenza II.
Discography
- Berio, Luciano. 1999. Sequenzas. Ensemble InterContemporain (including Frederique Cambreling, harp). Deutsche Grammophon. 3 CDs,
- Berio, Luciano. 2006. The Complete Sequenzas, Alternate Sequenzas and Works for Solo Instruments. various performers (including Susan Jolles, harp). New York: Mode Records. 4 CDs, Mode 161/3.