Alban Berg

Seven Early Songs (Berg)

The Seven Early Songs (Sieben frühe Lieder) (c. 1905 – 1908), are early compositions of Alban Berg, written while he was under the tutelage of Arnold Schoenberg. They are an interesting synthesis

Structure#

The seven songs are: # Nacht (Night) – text by # Schilflied (Song amid the reeds) – Nikolaus Lenau # Die Nachtigall (The nightingale) – Theodor Storm # Traumgekrönt (Crowned in dream) – Rainer Maria Rilke # Im Zimmer (Indoors) – Johannes Schlaf # Liebesode (Ode to Love) – Otto Erich Hartleben # Sommertage (Summer days) – Paul Hohenberg

Instrumentation#

The orchestral version is scored for high voice (soprano) and: * 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (2nd doubling English horn), 2 clarinets in B flat, bass clarinet in A, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon; * 4 horns in F, trumpet in F, 2 tenor trombones; * timpani, percussion (bass drum, side drum, cymbals, triangle, tam-tam), harp, celesta; * strings: violins I and II, violas, violoncellos, double basses.

U.S. Premiere#

Its first American performance was by Suzanne Sten with the Erie (PA) Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Mahler conducting, on 26 October 1949.

Composer: Alban Berg