“Give me a few words”

Luciano Berio’s vocal Sequenza has, over the years, prompted many scientists to analyze its structure and meaning. This book focuses on the theatrical aspects of Sequenza III and provides a melopoetical analysis. Following an overview of Berio’s Sequenzas and the field of melopoetics, the piece is analyzed from three perspectives: The first part deals with the context of Sequenza III and the time of its composition, covering the trends of the era and influences around Luciano Berio. The second section deals mainly with the structural aspects of Sequenza III and links the used material to the dramaturgy of the piece. The aspects of performer and character formation as well as the contextualization of Sequenza III as a theatrical event are then discussed. The final section covers the relationship between music and text, starting with the analysis of Markus Kutter’s text and subsequently looking at the combination of music and text.