Sequenza
Encyclopedia
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:
Several of these pieces became the basis of larger works: Sequenza II, with the addition of extra instrumental parts around the original solo, became Chemins I; Sequenza VI developed into Chemins II, Chemins IIb, Chemins IIc and Chemins III; Sequenza VII became Chemins IV; Sequenza XI became Chemins V; Sequenza X became Kol-Od
, also known as Chemins VI; Sequenza IXb became Récit, also known as Chemins VII; and Sequenza VIII became Corale.
Conversely, Sequenza IX had grown out of a piece for clarinet and electronics which Berio later withdrew (this original piece was known as Chemins V; it is a different piece to the one now known by that name).
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...
. The word "sequenza" means "sequence" in Italian. The pieces, which often call for extended techniques, are:
- Sequenza ISequenza ISequenza I is a composition written in 1958 by Luciano Berio for the flutist Severino Gazzelloni. It was first published by Suvini-Zerboni, but the notation was revised much later and this version published by Universal Edition in 1992...
(1958; rev. 1992) for fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening... - Sequenza IISequenza IISequenza 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...
(1963) for harpHarpThe 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... - Sequenza III (1965) for female voice
- Sequenza IVSequenza IVSequenza IV for solo piano is the fourth in a series of solo works by Luciano Berio that started with the publication of Sequenza I for solo flute ....
(1965) for pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Sequenza VSequenza VSequenza V is a composition for solo trombone by Luciano Berio, part of his series of pieces with this title. Written in 1966 for Stuart Dempster, it has since been performed and recorded by Vinko Globokar, Benny Sluchin, Christian Lindberg, and others...
(1966) for tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate... - Sequenza VI (1967) for violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Sequenza VII (1969) for oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
(reworked as Sequenza VIIb for soprano saxophoneSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
) - Sequenza VIII (1976) for violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Sequenza IX (1980) for clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
(reworked 1981 as Sequenza IXb for alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, and 1980 as Sequenza IXc for bass clarinetBass clarinetThe bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
) - Sequenza XSequenza XSequenza X is a composition for trumpet and piano by Luciano Berio, the tenth in his series of pieces with this title. The work was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Thomas Stevens, and premiered by him on November 19, 1984...
(1984) for trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and piano resonance - Sequenza XISequenza XISequenza XI for solo guitar is one of a series of Sequenzas by Luciano Berio. Written for the American guitarist Eliot Fisk, it is an innovative investigation into the dramatic and virtuosic possibilities of musical performance.-Form:...
(1987) for guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Sequenza XIISequenza XIISequenza XII is a composition for solo bassoon, written by Luciano Berio in 1995 , and part of a series of fourteen Sequenze composed between 1958 and 2002. The work was written for, and dedicated to, the French bassoonist Pascal Gallois, who gave the world première on 15 June 1995.Sequenza XII is...
(1995) for bassoonBassoonThe bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature... - Sequenza XIII (1995) for accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
- Sequenza XIV (2002) for celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
(reworked in 2004 as Sequenza XIVb for double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
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Several of these pieces became the basis of larger works: Sequenza II, with the addition of extra instrumental parts around the original solo, became Chemins I; Sequenza VI developed into Chemins II, Chemins IIb, Chemins IIc and Chemins III; Sequenza VII became Chemins IV; Sequenza XI became Chemins V; Sequenza X became Kol-Od
Kol-Od
Kol-Od is a composition for solo trumpet and chamber ensemble by Luciano Berio. The ensemble consists of 3 flutes, oboe, 4 clarinets, 2 saxophones, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, celeste, accordion and strings....
, also known as Chemins VI; Sequenza IXb became Récit, also known as Chemins VII; and Sequenza VIII became Corale.
Conversely, Sequenza IX had grown out of a piece for clarinet and electronics which Berio later withdrew (this original piece was known as Chemins V; it is a different piece to the one now known by that name).