SEQUENCES BY LUCIANO BERIO: NEW ASPECTS OF EXPRESSION

Abstract

The article discusses the main features of Luciano Berio’s “Sequences”. The purpose of the study is to briefly examine Luciano Berio’s “Sequences” and identify their features as works of postmodern aesthetics. To achieve this, a brief analysis of the works of the cycle is carried out, the key features of their form, structure and content are identified, innovations introduced by the composer are shown, and the general characteristic features of the “Sequences” are highlighted. The work reveals distinctive features of the composer’s work as a representative of postmodern aesthetics. It is noted that in general the cycle seems non-programmatic, however, each of the compositions is intra-programmatic, filled with a vividly associative figurative structure and contains an original dramaturgy. A distinctive feature of the cycle is the uniqueness and freshness of the images of each “Sequence”, most of which are based on the conflict and comparison of two emotional layers. In the works of the cycle, the composer strives to reveal the potential capabilities of the instrument and explore its expressive and timbre features. Berio often rejects the known performance techniques and resorts to original interpretations of instruments to demonstrate new techniques and rules of performance, and at the same time does not interfere with the nature of the instruments. The works of the cycle belong to an open form: the scores are not formalized in many respects, do not always contain clear gradations of the performance of musical material, and in some cases are devoid of musical material. It is noted that the composer sought to create the impression of virtual polyphony, based on the rapid alternation of different musical characters and their simultaneous interaction. The theoretical significance of the study lies in the fact that its results can be used in the field of musicology when teaching the history and theory of music, modern music, polyphony and musical form. The study is of practical importance for lovers of contemporary music, students of secondary and higher-level arts educational institutions and professional performers.