Berceuse élégiaque, Op. 42 (BV 252a), is an orchestral work composed by Ferruccio Busoni in 1909.[1] Originally written for solo piano, to be added as the seventh piece in his 1907 collection Elegies, Busoni adapted it for orchestra later the same year.[1] This orchestral version was sub-titled "Des Mannes Wiegenlied am Sarge seiner Mutter" ("The man's lullaby at his mother's coffin").[1] The first performance of Berceuse élégiaque was in New York City on February 21, 1911, and was conducted by Gustav Mahler in his last concert concert before his death.

Berceuse élégiaque
by Ferruccio Busoni
CatalogueBV 252a
Opus42
Composed1909 (1909)
Scoringorchestra

The piece is dedicated: “In memoriam Anna Busoni, n. Weiss, m. 3.Oct.MCMIX”

Recordings edit

  • Schoenberg Ensemble conducted Reinbert de Leeuw, 1993, Koch Schwann, Mahler arranged Schoenberg and Busoni
  • Piano version Ferrucio Busoni, Michele Campanella, Elegien (Nr 7. Berceuse) Indianisches Tagebuch, 1980, reissued by Warner 1991

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Berceuse élégiaque." The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd ed. rev. Ed. Michael Kennedy. Oxford Music Online. Accessed 29 August 2011.