Vier Stücke (4 Pieces) for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 5: Clarinet Solo with Piano

Alban Berg's (1885-1935) Vier Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier (Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano), Op. 5, was composed in 1913. They are his only true miniatures as, shortly after he wrote them, a fateful and somewhat traumatic lesson with his tutor Arnold Schoenberg drove the young Berg to abandon small-scale works altogether, turning towards large extended orchestral works at his teacher's heavily critical insistence. Each of the four movements (1. Mäßig; 2. Sehr langsam; 3. Sehr rasch; 4. Langsam) constantly changes in tempo, articulation, timbral effects, and dynamics throughout. Despite Schoenberg's criticism in 1913, the work did finally premiere on October 17, 1919, ironically at Schoenberg's own Society for Private Musical Performances in Vienna. Reprint edition.