Berio Sequenza VIII

Beside the drama created between the soloist and his instrument, the sequenza for violin is permeated with two other dramatic opposites: the tension between a central tone, "A", which is the germ or pivot point for all the material in the first part of the piece, and the "rival central tone", "B", which for a while appears to be taking over the roll of "A". There is also a contrast between the chromatic, "atonal" clusters, chords and leaping or winding melodies on the one hand, and the tonal-sounding intervals and chords on the other: a play with and against the expectations of the listener, a musical suspense story.