CLXXXV. BERIO, Luciano: Sequenza V for Trombone

CLXXXV. BERIO, Luciano (1925-2003)

Sequenza V for Trombone (1966)
Christian Lindberg, trombone
(5:57)

I once had a book (I thought it was by Severino Gazzelloni, but I can find no trace of it on the internet) which detailed how woodwinds could play multiphonics.

I had been experimenting with trombone chords (you play a low B-Flat, hum a D, a tenth above, and the fifth -- an F -- will magically appear and you have a three-note chord!) and was trying to learn how to write multiphonics for a solo oboe piece, which I planned as a multimedia composition, a kind of theatre piece.

It was called One Out Of Evolve In Tune.

What can I say? It was 1973 and the Watergate hearings were on all the time -- everyone's brain was scrambled ...

(It was never performed.)

**

But I was inspired by this piece. Like Stockhausen (see Post CLXXXIII), Berio's works are carefully thought-out constructions with detailed instructions to the performer, in order to obtain the best possible performance.

Here are the performance directions for Sequenza V:

On the stage a very low stand and a chair. Walking on the stage and during the performance of section A the performer (white tie, spot from above, etc.) strikes the poses of a variety showman about to sing an old favorite. Inspired, he extends his arms, he raises or lowers his instrument with movements which should appear spontaneous, he hesitates ...

In this performance, Lindberg has chosen to be a clown.

This is the first page of the score: