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21stJune2009

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/ITba7KcWEhk/UC9ZgjiAy_I/AAAAAAAAAJM/UNV52zaun3Q/s1600/images.jpeg]AlbanBerg(18851935)

Bergisoneofthemostfascinatingcomposerstoemergefromtheartisticmaelstromwhichwaspre1914Vienna,hisbirthplace.HisonlyformalmusiceducationwashisstudieswithSchnberg,whonurturedandencouragedtheshy,hesitantyoungstertoproducesuchworksasthepowerfulThreePiecesforlargeorchestra(1914)andthebeautifulyetenigmatic'AltenbergSongs'or'Songstopicturepostcardtexts'(1912).

HewasinvalidedoutoftheAustrianArmyafterservingbrieflyasanartilleryofficerbetween19151917,experiencewhichheputtogooduseinhisfirstopera,andbestknownmasterpiece,Wozzeck(1921).Hisfameandmusicalpowersgrewfromthe1920suntilhisuntimelydeathattheageof50,manifestinginsuchdramaticmusicaltextsastheChamberConcertoforViolin,PianoandWinds(1925),hissecondoperaLulu(unfinishedathisdeath)andarguablyhisfinestwork,anoutpouringofgriefandecstasy'tothememoryofanAngel'theViolinConcerto(1935).

AnLeukon,asettingofapoembythe18thcenturyGermanpoet,JohannWilhelmLudwigGleim,wasoneofBerg'syouthfulcompositions.Hewroteitin1907,whenhewasinthethirdyearofhisstudieswithArnoldSchnberg.Inall,Bergwroteover80songsbeforeandduringhisstudieswithSchnberg,mostofwhichhesuppressed.Hedidrelentinthecaseof7songswhichwerepublishedin1928.Theywerepublishedin2versions:intheoriginalvoiceandpianobutalsoinhisownorchestralarrangements.These"SevenEarlySongs"havenowbecomefirmfavouriteswithorchestrasandaudiencesalikeandhavereceiveduncountableperformancesandbroadcastsinthelast78years.

ThiswasnottobethefateofAnLeukonwhichfirstremainedknownonlytoBerg'swifeHeleneand

TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

An

Leukon,then,representstheirunfailingmutuallovebothatthebeginningoftheirlifetogetherandatitstragicend.Inhis23rdyear,Bergwassayingbymeansofthissong:"Helene,youaremyOne,myonlyOne."Afterhisdeath,shereciprocated,withouttellingasoul:"Alban,youarestillmyOne,myonlyOne.

ListentoAnLeukonhere[https://soundcloud.com/coolwindmusic/anleukonalbanberg18851935?in=coolwindmusic/sets/fourbergsongsorchchris]

AlbanBerginpre1914Vienna

AnLeukon

16/6/2015 TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

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possiblyoneortwoothers.However,itdidappearinprintin1937,inabiographyofBergwrittenbyhispupil,WilliReichentitled:AlbanBerg.MitBergseigenenSchriftenundBeitrgenvonTheodorWiesengrundAdornoundErnstKrenek,HerbertReichnerVerlagWien,1937(AlbanBerg.WithBerg'sownarticlesandcontributionsfromTheodorWiesengrundAdornoandErnstKrenek).ReichincludeditasaquaintexampleofBerg'searlystyle.From1937,itwasonlyknowntothosewhohadreadtheReichbiographyanditwasn'tuntilthe1980sthatitwaspublishedbyBerg'smusicpublisher,UniversalEdition,Vienna.

ThearrangementIhavemade(UniversalEditionUE33811)isintendedtobeperformedwiththe7publishedsongsandenhancesthecycleslateromanticsumptuousness.AlthoughBergemploysahugeorchestraforhisownsettingsofthesongs,oneofthem(DieNachtigallTheNightingale)isarrangedformultidivisistringsaloneanditisthissongthatIhaveusedasamodelforthesettingofAnLeukon.IhopethatitwillbeinterpolatedintoperformancesoftheSevenEarlySongstogiveaudiencesafurtherglimpseofwhatthe22yearoldBergwaswriting.So,thegminorversionofthesong1,thebasisofmyorchestration,hasbeenmoreorlesshiddenawayforover100years.Asacompaniontotheotherorchestralsongs,ithasnowbeenheardfivetimes.Still,thereceivedwisdomofthosefamiliarwithBerg'scanonofearlysongsthathasbeenappliedtoAnLeukon,incommonwithallhisotherunpublishedsongs,isthatBergwasdissatisfiedenoughwiththissongtorejectitwhenchoosingthesongsforthecycleoforchestralsongs(theSevenEarlySongs)completedin1928.

Averytriteandsuperficialreasonforthisisnotdifficulttofind.Gleim'spoemisaboutactingimmediately,notputtingthingsoffuntiltomorrow,havingthecourageofyourconvictionsdeclareyourlove,stealthatkiss,etc.Themusic,however,isnotfullofurgency.Itisinnohurryandalthoughitbuildsitselfintoanimpressiveclimax,itisquitelugubriousincharacter.Despitethis,itisveryevocative,nottosaypassionate,andthereforedeservestobeheardmoreoften.TherethecasehasrestedsinceWilliReichpublishedAnLeukonin1937,sayingonlythatitwasanexampleofBerg's'youthfulstyle'.IsthisBerg'srealreasonforexcludingit,though?

Thereissomethingveryinteresting,nottosayverypersonal,aboutAnLeukonwhichhasledmetodoabitof'detectivework'.Firstofall,thesongis23barslong.Thisisnotinterestinginitselfexceptforthefactthat23isBerg'spersonal'Fate'number.Thequestionis:hasthishappenedbyaccidentorbydesign?Ifitisthelatter,thenwecanonlyguessatitssignificanceherebutIthinkitisinconceivableforBergtohavecomposedasongof23barsandforthatfactnottobeimportant.Thismeansthattheremighthavebeensomethinginhislifewhichhethoughtheshouldn't'putoff'.Wecanneverknowforcertainbutwecanspeculate.Thisiswheremylittlebitof'sleuthing'comesin.

Thisisthequestiontobeposed:isthereapossible'innermeaning'whichBerghashiddenbeneaththenotesofthissong?Ithinkthereis.WeknowthatBergmetHeleneNahowski,hisfuturewife,attheViennaHofoper(theRoyalOpera)duringthe19067seasonand,byEaster1907,afriendshiphadbeenfirmlyestablished.Itisduringthesameyear,1907,thatBergwroteAnLeukonapuzzlinglycontradictorysong.Whilethepoettalksofurgency:'Don'tputoffuntiltomorrowthethingsinyourheartyouwanttosayordo!',Bergchoosestomatchthesesentiments,notwithhurrying,scurryingmusicasyoumightexpect,butwithpassionate,sumptuous,ravishingmusic.Why?

IfwestartwiththescantevidencewehaveconcerningwhenthesongwaswrittenanditsclosenesstothetimeofhisfirstmeetingswithHeleneNahowski,wecanaddsomethingelse.WeknowthatBergwasshy,thathelackedselfconfidenceandthathewashesitantandwaslackingalsoinselfbeliefas

HiddenMeanings,InnerMeanings

16/6/2015 TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

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[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/NKlbJuDCHsg/UIV9CUTxkNI/AAAAAAAAANI/ZJlb82f5IjA/s1600/JohannGleim.jpeg]

JohannWilhelmLudwigGleim(17191803)

farashiscomposingwasconcerned.Thesewereengendered,inpart,byhistwolifelongphysicalafflictions:severeasthmaandaweakheart.Puttingthesethingstogether,wecanspeculatethatthisiswhatthemusicexpresseslikea'dissonantcounterpoint'tothefeelingsexpressedbythetext:'Don'tbeshy!''Seizethemoment!''Saywhat'sonyourmindandinyourheart!'.

Ournextclueisthenumber23.This,asmentionedatthebeginning,wasBerg's'Fateful'number.Thisoriginatesfromthedateofhisfirstasthmaattackwhichhappenedon23July1900,justunderfourmonthsafterthedeathofhisfatheron30March1900.Fromthattimeon,23anditsmultiples(46,69etc.)wasgivenaspecialsignificanceinhisscoresandsothefactthatAnLeukonhas23barscannotbeignoredbyanyonewhohasstudiedBergandhismusic.Ithinkwecanassume,therefore,thatthissongmeantsomethingtoBergandwasanextrareasonwhyhedidn'twantitpublishedorperformed.Thereseemtobeotherenigmatic,crypticcluesofferedherewhich,althoughtantalising,donotofferanyconclusiveproofofa'secretmessage'butnonethelessaddsomethingtothe'gestalt'whichsuggeststhatBergpouredouthisfeelingsforHeleneinthissong.

Next,thereisapuzzleconcerningthetext.BerghassetapoembyJohannGleim,anobscure18thcenturyGermanpoet.Thismayofferusafurtherclue.Berg'stasteinpoetrywasforfashionablecontemporarywriters:Rilke,Storm,Schlaf,Hartleben.Hedidincludeapoembyapoetofapreviousage,NikolausLenau(18101850),intheSevenEarlySongsbut,byandlarge,hepreferredthetextsofthosepoetsmovinginthefashionableViennesecirclesinwhichhe(andHelene)movedoraspiredtomove.HealsousedthepoetryofsomeofGermany'sgreatestwritersincludingGoetheandHeinebutthiswouldnothavebeenthoughtoddorquaint.Thesepoets,aswellasSchillerwerestillconsideredthe'gods'ofGermanliteratureanditwasalmost'derigeur'foryoung,aspiringcomposerstosettheirlyrics.PerhapsweshouldaskwhyBergchoseGleimandhisratheroldfashioned,sermonisingtext(althoughitdoescontainsomefaintlyhedonisticadvice:"Drinkandkiss!")whentherewasplentyofmaterialmuchmoretohistastereadytobeforgedintosongs?Ifweposethisquestion,themostlikelyansweris,again,thatthetexthasaspecialsignificance.Thislittlecluethenaddstothebodyofevidencewhichmakesthehypothesismoreplausible.

ThePuzzleofGleim'sPoem

MusicalCodes

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[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/U_moU7kpnw/UIUsayQl8YI/AAAAAAAAAMU/5rctN0H_a_I/s1600/images3.jpeg]HeleneNahowski

Weighingupallthis,theremaybeaconnectionbetweenhisblossomingfeelingsforHelene(whichwerereciprocated)andAnLeukon.WhatifBergwasmusingsecretlyabout'cementingthefriendship','takingittothenextlevel'orevencontemplatingaskinghertomarryhim?Bergisrenownedforusingthecrypticdeviceofdevelopingnotescellsandmottothemesbyusingtheletterswhicharealsopitchnamesi.e.A,B,C,D,E,F,andG.InGerman,youcanaddEs(Eflat)forSandH(Bnatural).BinGermanmusicnotationisBflat.ThemostfamousexampleofthisisBach'snamewhichtranslatesinmusicasBflat,A,C,Bnatural.Berg'susesthesecodestospelloutpeople'snames(or,atleast,partsoftheirnames)andtheirinitials.HedidthisopenlyinhisChamberConcertoforViolin,PianoandThirteenWindInstrumentsusingthemusicallettersofhisnameandthatofhisclosefriendsArnoldSchoenbergandAntonWeberntocreatemottothemeswhichareheardatthestartoftheConcertoanddevelopedextensivelyduringthework.Heusedthesamedevice,secretly,inthelastmovementoftheLyricSuitetoexpresshis'eternallove'foranotherwoman,HannaFuchsRobettin,thesisterofAlmaMahler'sthirdhusband,FranzWerfel.

ToreturntoAnLeukon.Atcertainpointsinthescore,wefindBerg'sinitials(A,Bflat)juxtaposedwithH(Bnatural)forHeleneandA,H,Es(A,Bnatural,Eflat)takenfromhersurname:Nahowski.Fortuitously,theAHinNahowskialsocorrespondstotheircombinedinitialsi.e.AHforAlbanHelene.ThekeyBergchoosesforthesongisGminorwhich,initsmelodicmode,providesallthese'cryptic'notes.ThismakesiteasyforBergtoassemblehissecretcode.IliketothinkthathefeltencodingNahowskianespecialchallengeforifhecouldovercomethischallengewhathewishedformightcometrue.Again,ifIamrighthere,itdidcometrue!Hisownnamewasfareasiertoencodesothatwouldhavebeenfarlessofachallenge!Inaddition,therangeofthesong(lowBnaturaltotopBflat)translatesasHBorHeleneBerg!ItisimportanttorememberthatBergcomposed'AnLeukon'fouryearsbeforehismarriagetoHeleneon3May1911.

TheexamplesIthinkIhavefoundarebasedbothontheirnames(asabove)andontheircombinedinitialsashusbandandwife,ABH(AlbanBergHelene[Berg](A,Bflat,Bnatural),whichbyhappycoincidenceformalittleupwardschromaticsequenceandalsoin2placesAHAlbanHelene!

Therearetwootherclues.Thefirstconcernsthetitleofthepoem(andsong)AnLeukon.InGreekmythology,Leukonwasoneofthehumanoffspringofthegod,Poseidon(Neptune),thegodoftheoceansor,moreprecisely,thegodoftheMediterraneanSea.Leukonhasa

CluesfromGreekMythology

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[http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html]Poseidon[http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html]

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/oc1L1r_EjbM/UmO7mbG3Y_I/AAAAAAAAAsM/1K33dCUxWHQ/s1600/Berg+Im+Morgengrauen+(K.+Stieler).jpeg]ApagefromanearlysongofAlbanBerg:

ImMorgengrauen(1904/5)(KarlStieler18421885)(ThispianoscorewasmadebyHermannWatznaueraBergfamilyfriend.)

furthermeaning,however.ItistheancientGreekforwhite.Berg'sfirstname,Alban,derivedfromLatin(albus),alsomeanswhite(asinalbinoandalbumeneggwhite).Itisnotinconceivable,therefore,thatBergisaddressinghimselfinthissong.Heseemstobesaying:"Listentothis,Alban.Thisadviceisforyou!"Thereisanotherpointofinterest.Inmylittleclassicaldictionary,whichIinheritedfrommyfather,IreadthataccordingtoGreekmythology,PoseidonbuiltthewallsofTroy.WhowasthemostfamouspersonconnectedwithTroy?Why,Helen!Sowehavealittlemythological'constellation'ofPoseidonLeukon(Alban)Helen(Helene).IamsureBergwouldhavehadaclassicaldictionaryinhislibraryitwasanessential'tool'forunderstandingand,therefore,appreciatingGreekandRomanliteratureand,ifso,hewouldhavebeenabletomakethesameconnections.

ThefinalclueconcernsthefirstpublicationofthesonginWilliReich'sbiographyof1937.(Interestingly,hebecameapupilofBerg'sin1928,theyearinwhichtheSevenEarlySongswerepublished.)ItisoddthatofallthesongsDoctorReichhadtochoosefrom,heselectedAnLeukon.Orwasitlikethat?WeknowthatBergdidn'twanttheseearlysongstobebecomepublic.WealsoknowthatafterAlban'sdeath,Helene,rightuptoherdeathin1976,jealouslyguardedhislegacy.SheallowednothingtobepublishedwhichBergwouldnothavewishedtobepublished.Andyet,lessthan2yearsafterAlban'sdeathinDecember1935,sheallowedthissongtoappearinprint!IwonderwhetherAnLeukonwastheonlysongDoctorReichwasallowedtosee.IfHelenehadallowedReichtoseeotherexamplesofBerg'searlysongs,whatcouldherreasonsbeforsuggestingAnLeukon?

Whatifshewantedtoshowtheworld,bygivingherconsenttothepublicationofacodedsongofBerg's,thatshewashisfirst(andasfarasshewasconcerned)hisonlylove.Andwhywouldshewanttodothis?Bythattime,thatis,1937,sheknewabout'Mopinka's'HannaFuchsRobettin's'romanticconnection'withherlatehusband.Itwouldhaverankledenormouslyandnowtherewasthedangerthatthisinformationwouldleakout.Someonemight'spillthebeans'.Theaffairmightbecomepublic

WilliReichsBiographyofAlbanBerg

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knowledgeanddamageBerg's,bynow,internationalreputation.Perhaps,byallowingAnLeukonintothepublicdomain,shewantedtosendoutamessagetotheworld,eitherconsciouslyorunconsciously,thatshehadhadnorivalsforAlban'saffections,thathehadlovedonlyherinanytruesense!Thereisevidencefromherletters(particularlytoAlmaMahlerWerfel)thatshethoughtthis.

AmIrightinthesetheseassumptions?IhavetoadmitthereisnoevidencethatIknowofwhichprovesthatBerghaswrittena'secretprogramme'intothissong.Hesuppressed'AnLeukon'evenafter,attherequestofEmilHertzka(thefounderofUniversalEdition),helookedthroughhisyouthfulsongsin1928andselectedthesevensongswhichheorchestratedandsawintoprint.Ifwetakeintoconsiderationthefactthatby1928,Berghadfoundanotherobjectforhispassion,HannaFuchsRobettin,thenitisentirelyunderstandablethatherejectedthesongwhich,morethananyoftheothers,mayhaveremindedhimoffallinginlovewithHelene21yearsbeforeandnaturally,onseeingitagain,hewouldhavefeltconflicted.Inotherwords,hismotiveswouldhavebeenincompletecontradistinctiontoHelene'sofnineyearslater.Itisinterestingtopointoutherethatthenamesofthetwomostimportantwomeninhislifestartwith'H'.Thatfactmayhavemadehisconfusedfeelingsallthemorepoignant.

Ofcourse,itispossiblethatherejectedAnLeukononpurelyartisticgroundsalthough,evenifthiswerethecase,Iwouldhavetodisagreewithhisdecision.PerhapsitlacksthesubtlesophisticationofsomeoftheSevenEarlySongs,forexample,Nacht(Night)andTraumgekrnt(Dreamcrowned).Italsodoesnotsharetheirhintsatexpressionismanddaring,chromaticharmonies.Despitethis,AnLeukonisasbeautifulastheothersintenseandglowingwithyouthfulandinnocentlypurepassion.AsIhavepointedout,however,thereisanunfortunate'dissonance'betweenthewordsandthemusicwhich,Ihope,Ihaveshownisintentional.

Thereisonefinalpieceofthe'jigsawpuzzle'whichIbelievetobethemostimportantandconvincingevidenceofAnLeukon'splaceintheheartsofAlbanandHelenewhenconsideredwitheverythingelseIhaverevealed.Forthispieceofthe'puzzle'wehavetoreviewsomeoftheeventssurroundingBerg'sunexpectedanduntimelydeathattheageofonly50fromsepticaemiawhichresultedfromanabscesswhichdevelopedafterBergwasstungbyawaspduringhislaststay,duringthelatesummerof1935,attheircountryhome,theWaldhaus,inAuenontheWrtherseeinCarinthia(Krnten)insoutheastAustria.

Atfirst,thewaspstingjustseemedanannoyancetoBerg,althoughweknowfromhisletterstoHelenethat,followingawaspstingwhilestayingathisparents'summerresidence,theBerghofontheOssiacherseealsoinKrnten,inJuly1909,hismiddlefingerofhisrighthandbecameveryswollenwhichpreventedhimfromwritingorplayingthepiano.Hewould,nodoubt,havebeenawarethat,sufferingfromasthmaand,havingbeendiagnosedashavinga'smallheart'(KleinHerz)condition,hewaspronetoanaphylacticreactionstoinsectstings.Inanyevent,hereturnedtoViennatocontinuetoorchestratetheViolinConcerto,hislastcompletedwork,whichhewaswritingtoacommissionfortheviolinist,LouisKrasner.Hewasmostanxiousto'gettheconcertooutoftheway'sothathecouldcontinuetoworkonLulu,hislastopera,whichwas,tragically,leftunfinished.2

WhenhereturnedtoViennaandtoHeleneintheirapartmentatTrautmannsdorfgasse,Hietzing,hediscoveredthesiteofthestinghaddevelopedintoaboil.HeshowedtheboiltoHeleneandtheymayhavediscussedwhetherheshouldseeadoctoraboutit.Likemanymen,Bergdidn'tlikedoctorsandanotherfactormadehimhesitate.AlthoughhisreputationandsuccesshadbeensteadilygrowingsincethefirstperformancesofWozzeckinBerlinin19256,aftertheNazisassumedpowerinGermanyin

AnLeukonRejected

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1933,hehadbeendeclared,likemanyJewishcomposers,althoughhewasn'thimselfJewish,adegenerateartist.Guiltbyassociationwasthe'nameofthegame'theNazisplayedwithBerg.This,asyoucanimagine,hadseverelyaffectedhisroyaltyincomeonwhichhehadgrowntorely.Hewasreluctanttovisitadoctor,then,becausehewasworriedaboutthecost.Hesoughttodealwiththematterhimself.Wealsoknowthis:Helenebecamemoreandmorefrustrated(andprobablyworried)thatAlbanwasprevaricating.Atthesametime,theirclosefriendSomaMorgenstern,beggedthembothnottotakemattersintotheirownhandsandrecommendedadoctorforwhomhehadthehighestregard.Berg,Ithink,triedtolessenSoma'sconcernbyanactofbravura(hedidn'tneedadoctorhewouldbefine)whichdidn'timpressSomaatall.HeagainbeggedAlban(andHelene)toseethedoctorheknewandhegaveAlbanthisdoctor'scard.

AlbanandHelene,forwhateverrealreason,didn'ttakeuptheirfriend'ssuggestion.Intheend,Helenelancedtheboilwithapairofscissors(nailscissors,Isuspect)whichshehadmerelyimmersedinboilingwater.Shedidnotseemtobeawarethattopreventsepticaemia,sheshouldhavecauterisedtheabscessbyheatingthescissorstoadullredcolourinanakedflamethusensuringtherequiredtemperaturehasbeenreached.Thescissorsshouldthenhavebeenallowedtocoolbeforeusebutitwouldstillhaverequiredalocalanaesthetictobeadministeredfirst.SomaMorgenstern'sfearswerenotunjustified.AfterHelenelancedtheboil,Albanseemedtobewellforafewdays.Thenthefirstsymptomsofbloodpoisoningstartedtoappearandalarmbellsstartedtoring.On16December1935,thepainthathehadbeensufferingsuddenlyceased,possiblysuggestingthattheabscesshadburstinternallyandthepushadenteredhisbloodstream.ThefollowingdayhewastakentotheErzherzog(Archduke)RudolfHospitalwherehewasoperatedonbutthesourceoftheinfectioncouldn'tbeascertained.On19December,hewasgivenabloodtransfusionafterwhichhejokedtoWilliReichthathehopedhedidn'tnowturnintoacomposerofkitschoperettas.ThenextfewdayspassedwithBerginreasonablecomfortbuton22Decemberhisimmunesystemgaveoutand,bearinginmindhisheartconditionmayhavebeenacontributoryfactor,hebeganaslowdeclinewhichendedwithhisdeathon24December1935at01:15hours.Hehadsurvivedthefateful'23rd'byalittlemorethananhour.Inhislastmomentsandinastateoffeverinduceddelirium,heappearedtobeconductingpassagesfromLulu.Hislastwordswere:'EinAuftakt!EinAuftakt!''Anupbeat!Anupbeat!'

HelenewasinconsolablewithgriefafterAlban'sdeath,theoneandonlytrueloveofherlife.Shewasinsuchastateofmentalandemotionalbreakdownthatshewasunabletogotohisfuneral.Thisiscompletelyunderstandable.Thereis,though,somethingremarkableaboutthefuneralwhichtookplaceon28December.Helene,thegreatcomposer'swife,asIhavesaid,isnotamongstthefamilyandfriendsandcolleaguesandrepresentativesoftheCityofViennaandoftheState.

Thereisaclosefamilymemberpresentwhoformanyyearshadlivedinshadows,atleastasfarasfriendsandcolleagueswereconcerned.ThisisAlban'snaturaldaughter,AlbineWittula(neScheuchl).AlbinewastheresultofanadolescentliaisonAlbanhadwithMarieSchleuchlin1902.Marie,mucholderthanBerg,shewas32atthetime,wasemployedasakitchenmaidattheBerghof.AlbinewasborninDecemberofthatyearandthewholeaffairwas'hushedup'byBerg'smotherandothermembersofBerg'sfamily.However,BergkeptintouchwithMariesporadicallyandhecertainlykeptaphotographofAlbineinhisdesk.Byallaccounts,shewasquitebeautiful,havinginheritedsomeofherfather's'angelic'goodlooks.BergimmortalisedherandhermotherintheViolinConcertowhichwasnotonlyamemorialtoManonGropius,AlmaMahler'sdaughterbyhersecondhusband,thearchitect

ATragicEvent

AlbanBergsDaughterAlbineWittula

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WalterGropius,butalsoamemorialtoatimeofunfetteredpassion,happinessandjoywhichBerghadexperiencedasa17yearoldattheBerghof.TheViolinConcertonotonlyhascrypticcyphersdenotingAlbine's(hispetnameforherwasBinchen)andMarie'snamesbutitalsoincludesaCarinthianfolkmelodytoportrayMarieandthecountrysideinwhichtheyenjoyedeachother'scompany.Thisisn'ttheplacetogointothedetailsoftheirrelationshipbutIwillreferthereadertosourcesfromwhichhe/shecanlearnmore.3

HelenewasvisitedbyAlbinesometimeafterthefuneral.Ascanbeimagined,Albine,whohadhardlyanycontactwithherfatherandwasfeelingthelossofachildforaparent,demandedtoknowfromHelenewhyhehaddiedsosuddenly.SheintimatedthatHelenecouldn'thavebeenlookingafterhimproperly.Helene,justasdistraughtasAlbine,cackhandedlyaskedifAlbinewantedmoney!Albinefeltinsultedbythisquestion.Shemerelywantedtoknowthetruth.TheinterviewwasabruptlyendedbyHelene'ssecretary,IgnazFranzoy,whoaskedAlbinetoleave.Theseedwassown,however.AlbinehadexpressedthethoughtthatsomeofBerg'sfriendshadsilentlyconsideredthatHelene'srashactioninlancingtheboilonBerg'sbackhadstartedtheballofhislast,fatefulillnessrolling.4

ThereisalittlevignettewhichwecanpictureofthesceneoutsidetheArchdukeRudolfHospitalafterBerg'sdeath.ItisHelene'ssisterwhoannouncesthesadnewstothefriendsstandingoutside.Helenestandsbesideher,silent,wringingherhandsinabjectgrief.Nothingstrangethere,perhaps,exceptinpsychologicalterms,thereisoftenadesiretoobtaincatharticreliefbytalking,unburdeningtheheavyloadoflossandlonelinessfeltatsuchatimebysharingthesethoughtswithlovedones.Oftenthe'task'ofannouncingacloseone'sdeathtofamilyandfriendshelpsthegrievingprocesstocommence.Weareusuallycocoonedbynature'sanaesthetic,shock,atthismoment,andthereforeprotectedfromanxietytosomeextent.Itisalittlecurious,althoughitisveryeasytojudgeHeleneaboutthis,thatshewascompletelyunabletotalktothewaitingcrowdherself.Iwillleaveittothereadertomakeuptheirownmind.Idon'tneedtoprovethispoint'beyondashadowofadoubt'.

Itistheeventthattookplaceabout18monthsafterBerg'sdeaththatIthinkshowwhatHelene'sunconsciousminddictatedtohertorevealinorderthatshecouldcontinuetolive,tofunctionnormallyifthatwasindeedpossibleafterAlbanwastakenfromher.IthinkitisnowproventhatAnLeukonwasaspecialgifttoher.Thesongspokeoftheirlove,notonlywhentheyfirstmet,butalso,asfarasHelenewasconcerned,whenAlbanwas'involved'withHannaFuchsRobettinparticularlyin1928,thetimeoftheorchestrationoftheSevenEarlySongs.BerghadmadeHelenepromisenottoshowtheyouthfulsongstoanyone,shebreaksthatpromise.WilliReichacceptsthissong,maybewithoutquestion,andpublishesitinhisbiographyofBergwhichappearsin1937.Thepossibilitythatindoingsoshewastryingtoassuagetheguiltshewasfeelingisheightenedbythisadditionalfact.

Inmedicalparlance,theleukonisthenamegiventothepopulationofwhitebloodcorpuscles(cells).Whitebloodcells,togetherwithplateletsareprobablythemostimportantelementsoftheimmunesystemofthebody'sdefencesagainstinfection.IamsurethatthiswordwouldhavebeenusedbythedoctorsattheArchdukeRudolfHospitalwhentheyexplainedherhusband'sillnesstoher.Inhergriefandanxiety,shegropesforsomethingthatwillensureAlban'sforgivenessandprotectionfromblame.'Ourundyingloveforeachother',wecanenvisageHelenethinking,'istestamenttothefactthatwearebeincapableofdeliberatelyharmingeachother.Whattokencanshefindthatsimplyandundeniablyrepresentsthatlove?Fromtheleukonthedoctorstalkabouttothesong,AnLeukon,whichAlbanwroteforher,isnotagreatleapoftheimagination.It'sthesamewordanditistheancientGreekforwhiteviaLatin,itisthemeaningofAlban,too.ThesethoughtsmayhavebeenconscioustoHelene.Ican'tsaywith100percentcertainty.Obviously,Iwasnotthere.Itdoesexplaineverythingratherneatly,though.

So,eitherthenorlater,sherememberedthesongandatsomepointdesired,inorderto'quieten'her

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innerturmoil,to'giveittotheworld'.Then,asifbyfate,WilliReichcomestoseeher.HediscusseswithherthebiographyofBergheispreparing.HewasastudentofBerg'sandsoitisentirelybelievablethatshewantstohelphiminanywayshecan.Hesitatingly,heasksifhecanincludeoneofAlban'searlysongs.Sheagreesreadilyandperhapsheissurprisedthatsheneedsnopersuasion.HewouldhaveknownthatBergdidn'twantanyoftheearlysongspublished.PerhapsitsayssomethingaboutReich'sscruples,too,knowingBerg'swishes.Perhapsheshouldnothaveaskedherinthefirstplace.Again,Iamnotgoingtojudge.Nevertheless,theylookthroughthesongstogether.Whynotpublishthisone,shesuggests,showinghimAnLeukon.Andsohedoes,therebycarryinghertragicandheartfeltgrief(andpossiblyherprayerforAlban'sforgiveness)withitinthelittlebookaboutBergintheformofthepoignantlittlesongwhichBergwroteasa'shelovesmeshelovesmenot'exerciseandashisexpressionofhisfeelingsforherin1907.

AnLeukon,then,representstheirunfailingmutuallovebothatthebeginningoftheirlifetogetherandatitstragicend.Inhis23rdyear,Bergwassayingbymeansofthissong:"Helene,youaremyOne,myonlyOne."Afterhisdeath,shereciprocated,withouttellingasoul:"Alban,youarestillmyOne,myonlyOne."

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/K7EEi2pBYNs/UIUtPhOofxI/AAAAAAAAAMs/QX1zYUKesI0/s1600/images4.jpeg]HeleneandAlban

Examplesofthecodefound.

Rangeofsong:lowestnote:Bnaturalhighestnote:Bflat.HB(HeleneBerg)

Bar1(pianotrebleinnerpart)HBA[H(elene)B(erg)A(lban)]

Bar2(voice/pianobass)HGEB[H(elene)G(r)EB](Bergbackwards)

Bar6/7(pianobassminimsinoctaves)HBA[H(elene)B(erg)A(lban)](Textstartsinbar5:'KeineStundelaentfliehn.''Don'tletthehoursfly.')

Bar11/12(pianobass)AH[A(lban)H(elene)](Text:'Gelegenheit''opportunity')

Bar11/12(pianotreble)EEEH[E(n)E(l)EH](Helenebackwards)(Text:'Gelegenheit''Weitdu...''opportunity''Doyouknow...')

Bar13/14(pianotreblesecondquaverof4thbeat+semibrevesinbar14)AEGB[A(lban)BE(r)G](Text:'FlchtigistdieZeit.''Timeisfleeting.')

Bar16(pianotreble)HB[H(elene)B(erg)](Text(bars1619):'AufschubeinergutenTathatoftschongereut.''Delayingagooddeedhasoften

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beenregretted.')

Bar16(pianotrebleinnerpart)HBA[H(elene)B(erg)A(lban)]

Bar16/17(pianotreble)AEsH[(N)A(how)Es(ki)H](NahowskiH)

Bar20(pianobass4thbeatquavers)AH[A(lban)H(elene)]

Bar20(pianobassminims)AH[A(lban)H(elene)]

[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/ilVQVPqvBA/Ul_FY3cAqI/AAAAAAAAArc/mztiykspEw/s1600/AnLeukonCode.tif]

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[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/K7QkGMG97oI/Ul_OttAVlI/AAAAAAAAArs/bpxzsQoaNt0/s1600/AnLeukonCode2.tif]

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[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/BcXl_T6v2tc/Ul_Ch4XIvrI/AAAAAAAAAr8/AkJRTnDXPZM/s1600/AnLeukonCode3.tif]

[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/Uk24ciIWglk/Ul_ADOtVZRI/AAAAAAAAArw/9XUlnI88cC0/s1600/AlbanHeleneWedding.jpeg]

HeleneandAlbanBergontheirweddingday:4thMay1911

Notes

1.Thereare2versionsofAnLeukon.TheonepublishedbyUniversalEditioninthesecondvolumeofJugendlieder(UE18144)isthesecondversion,possiblynotinBerg'shand(itmayhavebeencopiedoutbyhisfriendandmentor,HermannWatznauer).Thisversionof'AnLeukon'isineminor.Ithasbeendated1908byChristopherHaileywhoeditedtheUniversalEditioncollectionof

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earlysongs.Sinceitisinadifferentkey,the'secretcode'isnotpresent.Therefore,ineminor,itisasifthe'code'hasbeenwrittenininvisibleinksinceakeytranspositionwillinevitablyhidealettercode.TheversionIused(Reich)whichhasthe'code'isinGminor.Thismeansthatitisthefirstversion(1907)andpresumablyinBerg'shand.TheoriginalisintheMusiksammlungderOsterreichischenNationalbibliothek(Vienna),F21Berg3(asno.79amongseveralotherearlysongs).

2.TheConcertoAListener'sGuide.MichaelSteinberg(OxfordUniversityPress)20003.'FleischundBlut'(FleshandBlood)PatBamfordMilroy(MusicTimes)Winter2002

4.Adornoabiography.StefanMllerDoohm(Polity)200520092014ChristopherGordon

Posted21stJune2009byChrisGordon

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