Berio: Tempi Concertati

Description

This is pointedly music of the 1950s, according to Berio's intellect. The flute appears to have the leading role in this instrumental musical theatre, with support, commentary and counteraction from the two pianos and, intermittently, the percussion. Short dramatic altercations take place, the music becomes excited, but then it becomes calm again, lyrical and pensive.

Berio sees it all more prosaically, although he does allow that the piece is about the relationship between the discrete tempo and the communal one (that of the four small instrumental groups) – which is not always the case, but which still needs coordination in every instance. "The fluctuating between specific and relatively vague action can give the composition the discontinuous character of improvisation."