Violin Concerto of Alban Berg Essay Example

Alban Berg was an Austrian composer of Viennese School Pioneered by Arnold Schoenberg. He successfully combined late Romanticism elements with revisions of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique. Berg wrote his most famous and extensively performed instrumental work, the Violin Concerto, in 1935. Violin concert was inspired by the death of a young girl, Manon Gropius. She had passed away due to polio sickness. Berg described her as a beautiful angel and titled his work "to the memory of a beautiful angel" to keep Manon's memory alive. This Violin Concerto sums up Berg's entire musical viewpoint and smartness more than any one of his pieces. Therefore, this paper will focus on the Berg's skills on the integration of different instruments to discuss the musical elements in this piece.

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If one listens to Berg's music, they can understand that he had mastered his art of playing the violin. The music is soft and flows smoothly like water. He uses note G, D, A on his solo violin to bring out a unique sound which is separated into two when the harp stops playing. Berg understands what to incorporate to bring the best from his musical art. The sound of a violin can be heard from a distance in a choreographed manner when he holds note G as the harp and clarinets keep playing. The solo violin and the harp player in an alternating pattern that creates a unique sound. The sound of the two instruments comes out as there is a communication that they are passing to each other in a responding pattern. The four notes playing in a row bring out the best music an audience can ask for. Berg's mastery of art brings out the best of his skills at play in the violin concerto.

As the music continues, it deviates from its initial form where it moves to measure 11 I that the meter changes from 4/4 to 2/4. However, the tempo remains the same to maintain its rhythm. Bassoon, viola, and contrabass are introduced from the measures 11 to 13 in which the bassoon starts with the second half eighth notes with legato in piano. The rhythmic pattern is repeated at intervals as the contrabass holds half notes while Viola is incorporated in the music to bring a regular rhythm that matches a musical trend. The music is made to reflect Manon's presence amongst the artist. Berg made the music sound sorrowful and at the same time recognizes the greatness of a girl that whose presence could be felt yet she remained far away. The vocals and instrumental rhythm brought out mixed feelings of love and sadness at the same time. The perfection of the music could be felt in the rhythm created by the instruments used by the Berg. The integration of each instrument sound to bring the best sound shows Bergs ability to communicate through music. It is as if he was part of the instrument of his choice. One could tell that Berg and the instruments in the Violin Concerto were one.

The unique tonal incorporation in the violin concerto creates a particular theme of a lost teenager. He uses romantic passages that are integrated into with different notes to create a unique music analogy that captures the different emotional feeling of the audience. The tone row identifies itself with minor and major triads which are formed from a string of thirds. Berg also uses tonal elements of Bach chorale to bring a unique sound in his music. The tone that ranges from sorrow, sadness, and romance is emphasized by his musical juxtapositions which attract the attention of his audience to the lost young girl. Berg knows how to bring about different rhythms alternately to create a perfect sound with a different analogy. Measures 187 to 189 are marked by a sorrow tone where he uses notes Ab-F-F#-E-E-C#-D with the same rhythm as sixteenth notes with triplets. The audience could feel the loss of a beautiful young girl that needs their tears and sorrow.

Conclusion

On the final measures of the concerto, the tone and mood of the music change to calm down the audience. Thus, from measure 196 to 199, the solo violin plays ascending motion in pianissimo (PP). The other string parts, such as the first violin and the second violin keep silent. The horn and the trumpet play low notes in pianissimo. Here, the music sounds quiet with calmness and flow. Next, when the music goes to the measure 224, the violoncello, viola, the first violin and the solo violin play one after the other from measure 224 to 226. At this point, the music describes the sweet side of the girl. Finally, this movement ends in the solo violin in the high note G. The first violin plays notes G, D, A, and E which are same notes at the beginning of the solo violin in the first movement. This indicates the last moments of the concert, which are marked by a descending sound at the beginning. The Violin Concerto marks Alban Berg greatness as a composer. He influenced many in Viennese school and the world of music.

In conclusion, he marked a good start of musical analogies in history.