Paul Jacobs, piano; Gilbert Kalish, piano; Brandeis Festival Orchestra; Izler Solomon, Conductor; Lenox Quartet: Peter Marsh, violin; Theodora Mantz, violin; Paul Hersh, viola; Donald McCall, cello; Robert Helps, piano; Columbia Chamber Ensemble; Gunther Schuller, Conductor
Arthur Berger was born in New York City in 1912 and died in Boston in 2003. He studied composition and theory with Nadia Boulanger, Milhaud and Piston. In his early career, he espoused the cause of new music, became its spokesman and was among the first to recognize the significance of Charles Ives.
As a composer, chamber and piano music represent a sizable portion of Berger’s output. Virgil Thomson called his Quartet in C Major for Woodwinds (1941) “one of the most satisfactory pieces for winds in the whole modern repertory.” His String Quartet (1958) received the New York Critics Circle Citation in 1962. Among his larger works are Serenade Concertante (1944) written for the CBS Orchestra and Ideas of Order (1952), commissioned by Dimitri Mitropoulos for the New York Philharmonic, the success of which led to a full page story in Time.
As critic and theorist, Berger has contributed articles, some of a rigorous analytical nature, to numerous periodicals and books. He is author of the first book on Aaron Copland and was founding editor of Perspectives of New Music. Berger’s
labeling of the “octatonic scale” in his essay, “Problems of Pitch Organization in Stravinsky,” remains widely in use today.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Music of Arthur Berger
| MP3/320 | $9.99 | |
| FLAC | $9.99 | |
| WAV | $9.99 | |
| CD-R | $9.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Three Pieces for Two Pianos: I. quarter-note = ca. 80
Arthur Berger
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Three Pieces for Two Pianos: II. quarter-note = ca. 56
Arthur Berger
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Three Pieces for Two Pianos: III. quarter-note = ca. 80
Arthur Berger
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Serenade Concertante
Arthur Berger
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String Quartet: I. Toccata
Arthur Berger
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String Quartet: II. Cantabile
Arthur Berger
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String Quartet: III. Leggiero e sotto voce
Arthur Berger
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String Quartet: IV. Tranquillo
Arthur Berger
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String Quartet: V. Intermezzo
Arthur Berger
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String Quartet: VI. Coda
Arthur Berger
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Two Episodes: I. Poco adagio
Arthur Berger
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Two Episodes: II. Allegro molto moderato
Arthur Berger
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Chamber Music for 13 Players: I. Variations
Arthur Berger
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Chamber Music for 13 Players: II. Allegro moderato, leggiero
Arthur Berger
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