Sequenza X
Encyclopedia
Sequenza 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. The piece is dedicated to Ernest Fleischmann
, managing director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
from 1969 to 1997, who convinced Berio to write a Sequenza for trumpet, despite years of resistance to the idea. Stevens received the music only nine days before the premiere.
Sequenza X is for trumpet and piano, however the piano is only used as a resonator. Berio requires the pianist to depress the keys on the piano without sounding the instrument. By playing the trumpet into the piano, the strings are made to sympathetically resonate
. The effect is so subtle that the piano must be amplified for it to be heard in the auditorium. Berio prescribes a contact microphone solution in his score, whereby the microphones are secured to the underside of the sound board.
Sequenza X requires the trumpeter to employ a variety of extended technique
s, including flutter tonguing, pedal tones, and valve tremolo
s. Much of the musical material focuses on transmuting the timbre of the instrument, often on a single pitch. Techniques such as double tonguing and doodle tonguing are interchanged rapidly and often paired with valve tremolos and hand stops. Like much of the extended technique for brass, Berio's incorporation of doodle tonguing was inspired by jazz trumpeter Clark Terry
. However, he misunderstood the method, which produces a very legato
, almost drunken-sounding articulation. He repeatedly asked Stevens in rehearsals for a more staccato
sounding doodle tongue, eventually acquiescing when he realized it was impossible.
The range of the piece creates an endurance problem for any trumpeter. Though the tessitura
is almost entirely in the standard trumpet range, the piece spans over three octaves, and notoriously requires 17 high C's to be played by the trumpeter on the final page. Though the score's lowest note is a C-sharp, Berio had originally wanted a pedal C. Stevens could not produce a pedal C at the volume Berio desired; so, the note was raised a half-step. Both Stevens and Berio agreed that the printed score should include the pedal C, but the change was never made.
The piece has become a standard in the contemporary trumpet repertoire, and has been recorded numerous times, most notably under supervision of the composer by trumpet soloist Gabriele Cassone.
Sequenza X is the basis for Berio's Kol-Od
(also called Chemins VI) which adds a small ensemble to accompany the solo trumpet part. Kol-Od
was premiered by Gabriele Cassone with the Ensemble InterContemporain
, Pierre Boulez
conducting, on April 27, 1996 in Basel, Switzerland.
Trumpet
The 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
Piano
The 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...
by 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...
, the tenth in his series of pieces with this title
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...
. The work was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Thomas Stevens
Thomas Stevens (trumpeter)
Thomas Stevens trumpeter, composer, and author, was principal trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1972 to 1999...
, and premiered by him on November 19, 1984. The piece is dedicated to Ernest Fleischmann
Ernest Fleischmann
Ernest Martin Fleischmann was a German-born American impresario who served for 30 years as executive director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which he upgraded to become a top-ranked orchestra...
, managing director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
from 1969 to 1997, who convinced Berio to write a Sequenza for trumpet, despite years of resistance to the idea. Stevens received the music only nine days before the premiere.
Sequenza X is for trumpet and piano, however the piano is only used as a resonator. Berio requires the pianist to depress the keys on the piano without sounding the instrument. By playing the trumpet into the piano, the strings are made to sympathetically resonate
Sympathetic resonance
Sympathetic resonance is a harmonic phenomenon wherein a formerly passive string or vibratory body responds to external vibrations to which it has a harmonic likeness. The classic example is demonstrated with two similar tuning-forks of which one is mounted on a wooden box. If the other one is...
. The effect is so subtle that the piano must be amplified for it to be heard in the auditorium. Berio prescribes a contact microphone solution in his score, whereby the microphones are secured to the underside of the sound board.
Sequenza X requires the trumpeter to employ a variety of extended technique
Extended technique
Extended techniques are performance techniques used in music to describe unconventional, unorthodox, or non-traditional techniques of singing, or of playing musical instruments to obtain unusual sounds or instrumental timbres....
s, including flutter tonguing, pedal tones, and valve tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
s. Much of the musical material focuses on transmuting the timbre of the instrument, often on a single pitch. Techniques such as double tonguing and doodle tonguing are interchanged rapidly and often paired with valve tremolos and hand stops. Like much of the extended technique for brass, Berio's incorporation of doodle tonguing was inspired by jazz trumpeter Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
. However, he misunderstood the method, which produces a very legato
Legato
In musical notation the Italian word legato indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence...
, almost drunken-sounding articulation. He repeatedly asked Stevens in rehearsals for a more 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...
sounding doodle tongue, eventually acquiescing when he realized it was impossible.
The range of the piece creates an endurance problem for any trumpeter. Though the tessitura
Tessitura
In music, the term tessitura generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable range for a given singer or, less frequently, musical instrument; the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding texture or timbre...
is almost entirely in the standard trumpet range, the piece spans over three octaves, and notoriously requires 17 high C's to be played by the trumpeter on the final page. Though the score's lowest note is a C-sharp, Berio had originally wanted a pedal C. Stevens could not produce a pedal C at the volume Berio desired; so, the note was raised a half-step. Both Stevens and Berio agreed that the printed score should include the pedal C, but the change was never made.
The piece has become a standard in the contemporary trumpet repertoire, and has been recorded numerous times, most notably under supervision of the composer by trumpet soloist Gabriele Cassone.
Sequenza X is the basis for Berio's 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 called Chemins VI) which adds a small ensemble to accompany the solo trumpet part. 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....
was premiered by Gabriele Cassone with the 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....
, Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
conducting, on April 27, 1996 in Basel, Switzerland.
List of Techniques
- FluttertonguingFluttertonguingFlutter-tonguing is a wind instrument tonguing technique in which performers flutter their tongue to make a characteristic "FrrrrFrrrrr" sound. The effect is similar to the growls used by jazz musicians.- Notation :...
- The first notes of the piece are fluttertongued, and Berio makes extensive use of the technique throughout. - Doodle tonguing - Used extensively throughout the piece, it is often interchanged rapidly with fluttertonguing.
- Hand stopping - The trumpeter must produce the notated pitch, which requires a compensation due to the tendency for stopping to change the pitch. The technique is used extensively throughout the piece, and is often paired with a tremolo effect, creating a wah-wah effect.
- Valve tremolo - Used most often in rapid switches from fluttertonguing and back again.
- Pedal tonePedal tonePedal tones are special notes in the harmonic series of cylindrical-bore brass instruments. A pedal tone has the pitch of its harmonic series' fundamental tone. Its name comes from the pedals of a pipe-organ. Cylindrical brasses do not naturally vibrate at this frequency.A closed cylinder...
- There are 2 pedal C-sharps in the piece, only a fourth below the standard trumpet range. - Shake - A very fast lip trill (sometimes aided by use of 'shaking' the trumpet) between two adjacent partials. This is only used once in this piece.
Discography
- Marco BlaauwMarco BlaauwMarco Blaauw is a Dutch trumpeter.- Biography :Marco Blaauw studied trumpet at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. He continued studying with Pierre Thibaud and with Markus Stockhausen. He has an international career as a trumpet soloist and is a permanent member of the ensemble musikFabrik...
, Hot: Trumpet Solo (BVHaast) - Gabriele Cassone, Sequenzas (Deutsche Grammophon)
- Guy Few, Sequenzas I-XIV For Solo Instruments (Naxos)
- William Forman, The Complete Sequenzas, Alternate Sequenzas & Works for Solo Instruments (Mode)
- Reinhold Friedrich, Nobody Knows de Trouble I See (Capriccio)
- Gerald Ruddock, Baroque and Contemporary Trumpet (Angel Records)
External links
- Universal Edition - The publisher of Sequenza X
- Program Notes - Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Kol-Od
- Gabriele Cassone - official website
- Thomas Stevens - official website
- Performance of Sequenza X by Flávio Gabriel, Part 1, Part 2 - Festival Contemporâneo RS 2007 (Januíbe Tejera piano)