Sonate , Op. 1 (2009)
(Arrangement for ensemble)

Alban Berg/Richard Dünser, Sonate Nr. 1

Alban Berg is undoubtedly one of the composers with whom I have a special affinity. When I was a student of Hans Werner Henze, I once spent a whole week opposite the Berg Villa in Trahütten, Styria, where parts of Wozzeck were written, and I have returned there from time to time, composing parts of my Night Triptych there. The plan to orchestrate the Sonata op. 1 haunted me for a very long time, and about 100 years after it was written (1909), I implemented the plan without any external stimulus. I sent the finished work to Dr. Christian Meyer, who scheduled the premiere (with the Ensemble Kontrapunkte under Dr. Peter Keuschnig) at the Schönberg Center, and then commissioned instrumentations of several works of the Viennese School from me.

What I love so much about this work is how Berg finds his own tone, mood and dramaturgy "despite" his reference to Schönberg's 1st Chamber Symphony (which is always noticeable, even the beginning is a homage to the chords of fourths, here embedded in a B minor tonality, but the B minor only appears again at the end, then the whole tone row plays a role, as in Schönberg, as does late Romantic harmony). One can already sense Wozzeck, elements of the later work can also be heard, just as often with great masters in the nutshell of early works there is already a connection to what is to come, "on revient toujours".

I have tried to illuminate the rich network of motivic relationships, developments and culminations with chamber orchestral colours in order to perhaps bring one of the most beautiful piano works of the 20th century closer to the listener.