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Encrypted Messages in Alban Berg's Music (Border Crossings)

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This book is the most valuable study of Alban Berg's music available in English language. Each chapter in this book is written by an eminent scholar/musicologist from Austria, Canada or US. The book is the most in-depth study of this underrated member of the second Viennese School. The four parts of this volume address four aspects relating to the ability of Berg's music to speak without words. The essays in part 1 deal with biographical issues that may have made such expressive choices particularly attractive to the composer. Part 2 explores various ways in which compositions not involving explicit verbal texts create signification, allusion, and reference, both to persons of importance in the composer's life and to literary works. Part 3 is dedicated to Berg's song cycles, and Part 4 examines Berg's operas. Many musical examples accompany the written text, and informative annotations conclude each chapter. The book is useful both to professionals and average listeners who want to better understand the beautiful music of this composer. There are two other similar studies of 20th century composers that can compare to this volume and they are Olivier Messiaen by Samuel and Henri Dutilleux by Caroline Potter.