Altenberg Lieder

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Five Orchestral Songs is a composition by Alban Berg. Composed in 1911-1912, Funf Orchesterlieder op. 4 received its premiere under the baton of Berg's teacher, Arnold Schoenberg. The text comes from 'picture-postcard texts(Ansichtskarten-Texten)' by a contemporary Viennese poet named Peter Altenberg. The texts deal with the stormy but beautiful condition of the soul, and the palpable sensations of love and longing. Berg's setting is for a huge orchestra. The music full of displaced ostinati and the conflicted, lyrical passion found in much of Berg's works.