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Chapter 70

Chapter 70. Musical Theater in Germany in the 1920s: Berg and Weill. Lecture Overview. Naturalism and expressionism in literature and opera Georg Büchner and Woyzeck Alban Berg: life and works Wozzeck , Act 3, scene 2 Bertolt Brecht and epic theater Kurt Weill: life and works

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Chapter 70

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  1. Chapter 70 Musical Theater in Germany in the 1920s: Berg and Weill

  2. Lecture Overview • Naturalism and expressionism in literature and opera • Georg Büchner and Woyzeck • Alban Berg: • life and works • Wozzeck, Act 3, scene 2 • Bertolt Brecht and epic theater • Kurt Weill: • life and works • The Threepenny Opera, Ballad of Mac the Knife • Review

  3. The Life of Alban Berg (1885–1935) • 1885 born in Vienna • 1904 becomes the private student of Arnold Schoenberg • 1925 breaks through to recognition as a composer with the premiere of the opera Wozzeck in Berlin • 1935 dies in Vienna from blood poisoning

  4. Principal Compositions by Alban Berg • Operas: • Wozzeck • Lulu (incomplete) • Orchestra: character pieces, a Chamber Concerto, and Violin Concerto • Chamber music: String Quartet, Op. 3; Lyric Suite for string quartet, Piano Sonata • Songs: about 100

  5. Main Characters in Alban Berg’s Opera Wozzeck (1914–1922) • Wozzeck • a poor soldier • Marie • his common-law wife • Drum Major • a crude and brutal figure in Wozzeck’s regiment • Doctor • performs medical experiments on Wozzeck • Captain • of the regiment

  6. Alban Berg, Wozzeck, 1914–1922, Act 3, scene 2 Through-composed form

  7. The Life of Kurt Weill (1900–1950) • 1900 born in Dessau (between Leipzig and Berlin) • 1918 attends Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, studying with Engelbert Humperdinck • 1920-23 studies with Ferruccio Busoni and Philipp Jarnach in Berlin • 1928 scores great success with The Threepenny Opera in Berlin • 1933 flees from Hitler, first to Paris, later to New York • 1936 begins to compose Broadway musicals • 1950 dies in New York

  8. Principal Compositions by Kurt Weill • Operas and Shows: about 30 works including • The Threepenny Opera • One Touch of Venus • The Lady in the Dark • Street Scene • Orchestra: includes symphonies (2), Violin Concerto • Songs: many collections • Chamber music: includes a String Quartet and Sonata for cello and piano

  9. Main Characters in Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera (1928) • Macheath (“Mac the Knife”) • a highwayman and murderer • Peachum • runs a beggar’s supply shop • Polly Peachum’s daughter • in love with Mac • Jenny • an old flame of Mac • Sheriff Brown • bought off by Mac • Lucy Brown’s daughter • another old flame of Mac

  10. Kurt Weill, Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera, 1928, Ballad of Mac the Knife) Strophic form

  11. Review Key Terms • naturalism • expressionism • Georg Büchner • Johann Christian Woyzeck • Gebrauchsmusik (“music for use”) • Bertolt Brecht • The Beggar’s Opera • epic theater

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