By Alban Berg
Some truly fascinating music.



Berg was inspired by Richard Strauss but unlike Strauss he never became a collaborator with the Nazi regime.

If you like that I highly recommend checking out Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces.



As spooky and compelling as early Sonic Youth. Like Bad Moon Rising but with orchestral instruments.

InMySoul77 wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:55 am Berg was inspired by Richard Strauss but unlike Strauss he never became a collaborator with the Nazi regime.

If I had to guess, he was likely classified as Entartete Kunst, along with the rest of the Second Viennese School.

If you like Wozzeck, he also wrote Lulu, which was somewhat the inspiration for that goofy collaboration between Lou Reed and Metallica,

For other expressionist opera that ran afoul of reactionary regimes: check out Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. While not a true Serialist work, it is in a similar aesthetic vein.

I’ve found Berg to be the most “musical” of the Serialists, though Boulez and Zappa preferred Webern. Boulez is always a good choice for Second Viennese School composers, as well as Messiaen. It all must be very precise to be heard effectively.

Geiginni wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 11:36 am

InMySoul77 wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:55 am Berg was inspired by Richard Strauss but unlike Strauss he never became a collaborator with the Nazi regime.

If I had to guess, he was likely classified as Entartete Kunst, along with the rest of the Second Viennese School.

Yup, along with the Jewish Schoenberg. Nazis wanted simple minded tunes to support the fatherland. Nothing too weird or out there, as this didn't serve their purposes of brainwashing people.

Strauss massaged their egos with his opulent orchestration and bombast.