Sequenza V

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sequenza V is a composition for solo trombone by Luciano Berio. Written in 1965 for Stuart Dempster, it has since been performed and recorded by Vinko Globokar, Benny Sluchin, Christian Lindberg, and others. The piece calls for many extended techniques including multiphonics (singing and playing at the same time), rattling a mute against the bell of the instrument, glissandi, and producing sounds while inhaling. In addition, the trombonist must at one point turn to the audience and ask "Why?"

Sequenza V was composed as a tribute to Grock, called "the last of the great clowns" by Berio. As a child, the composer saw the clown perform and in the middle of his routine, Grock stopped, turned to the audience, and asked "warum?" ("why?"). This powerful performance had a lasting impact on Berio and he was later to say "I didn't know whether to laugh or cry and I wanted to do both."

In 1994, BIS Records released a laserdisc of Christian Lindberg performing Sequenza V in clown attire.

[edit] References