Musical potential of speech in Sequenza III by Luciano Berio

Abstract

The paper explains the manner in which Luciano Berio treated the literary component in his composition Sequenza III. At the same time, it aims to identify models which might have inspired Berio to 'play' with the chosen poetic text. The characteristic manner in which the Italian composer dealt with words, depriving them of their status of the carrier of meaning, required other codes of communication to be included, such as emphasising the melodic-rhythmic potential of speech, as well as gesture and mimicry. Taking into account all the specifics of Berio's composition, the possibility of classifying it into the performative genre is considered.