Lyric Suite

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Lyric Suite. (1) Orch. by Grieg (1904) of 4 of his 6 Lyric Pieces (Book 5), Op.54 (1891) (Shepherd's Boy, Norwegian March, Nocturne, and March of the Dwarfs). (2) Work for str. qt. in 6 movts. by Berg, comp. 1925–6, f.p. Vienna 1927. 2nd, 3rd and 4th movts. arr. for str. orch. 1928, f.p. Berlin 1929. Research has disclosed that the Lyric Suite was a manifestation of Berg's love for Hanna Fuchs- Robettin, wife of a Cz. paper manufacturer and sister of the novelist Franz Werfel. He met her in 1925. In addition to quotations from Wagner's Tristan, Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony, and his own Wozzeck, Berg used the notes representing Hanna's and his initials (H (B nat.), F, A, and B) in the note-row which is the basis of the work. The 6th movt., Largo desolato, exists also in version with mez. voice as setting of S. George's trans. of Baudelaire's ‘De profundis clamavi’. F.p. of suite with vocal finale, NY 1979, f. Eng. p., BBC broadcast 1979.

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