Third Movement of Luciano Berio’s Sinfonia as a Musical Palimpsest

Antonina Wiatr

The case study is dedicated to the analysis of a musical palimpsest, understood as a type of postmodern intertextual piece. In a short, theoretical introduction, the author outlines the theory of a musical palimpsest. The analysis consists of three main parts: an analysis of the hypotext (earlier composition, on which the new one is based on; here: scherzo from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor), an analysis of the hypertext (the new work; here: third movement from Luciano Berio’s Sinfonia) emphasizing both the new and the borrowed elements. The conclusion consists of a reflection on how the analysed work evokes the idea of a musical palimpsest.

Keywords: Berio Luciano, intertextuality, Mahler Gustav, palimpsest

DOI: generating in process

Source(s), object(s) and method(s) of analysis
Source(s) of analysisScore
Year of creation1884-1895, 1968-1969
Methods of analysisOther
Target group / Study level
Level of Music Analysis knowledgeAdvanced

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