Collection Summary
Willi Reich Collection on Alban Berg
1905-1956
1931-1935
1905-1956
1931-1935
ML31 .B453
Reich, Willi, 1898-1980
Berg, Alban, 1885-1935
approximately 275 items
2 containers
1.25 linear feet
English
German
Collection material in German, with some materials in English
Music Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Alban Berg (1885–1935) was an Austrian
composer and member of the Second Viennese School, along with Arnold Schoenberg and
Anton Webern, who together advanced atonal and twelve-tone music. The Willi Reich
Collection on Alban Berg consists of correspondence between the composer and
musicologist Willi Reich (1898-1980), articles and clippings, and printed music for
Berg's vocal and instrumental works.
Acquisition Information
Purchase, 1990
Processing History
Music Division staff processed the Willi Reich Collection on Alban Berg around 1993. Rachel McNellis coded the finding aid in 2021.
Related Material
The Music Division holds holograph scores for Alban Berg's [Violin Concerto]
and his opera [
Wozzeck
], as well as a
significant amount of correspondence between [Berg and Paul
Hohenberg]. Several additional collections contain related materials. The
[Arnold Schoenberg Collection] includes letters between Schoenberg
and Berg, in addition to those with Anton Webern. The [ Rudolph Kolisch
Collection] contains correspondence between Kolisch and
Berg, Schoenberg, and Webern, as well as several scores in Berg's hand.
The [Alexander von Zemlinsky Collection] includes materials related to the
Second Viennese School.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Willi Reich Collection on Alban Berg are governed by the Copyright
Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international
copyright laws.
Access and Restrictions
The Willi Reich Collection Alban Berg is open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the
desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions on using or copying materials may apply.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
[item, date, container or reel or digital ID number], Willi Reich Collection on
Alban Berg, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note: Alban Berg
Date
Event
1885 February 9
Born in Vienna, Austria
circa 1901-1902
In a romantic relationship with Maria Scheuchl, a maid at the family's
estate in Carinthia
1902 December 4
Scheuchl gave birth to his daughter Albine
1901
1904
Composed more than 80 songs, which were his first compositions
1904
1911
Studied composition and music theory with Arnold Schoenberg
1910 May 3
Married Helene Nahowski
1911
Moved to Berlin
1911
1915
Taught private lessons and worked as a composer and arranger for
Universal Edition in Vienna
1912
Composed the song collection
Fünf Orchesterlieder nach
Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg
1913 March 31
Riot occured at the premiere of
Altenberg Lieder
, conducted by Arnold
Schoenberg, in reaction to the work's experimental style
1914 May 5
Attended first performance of Georg Büchner’s play
Woyzeck
in Vienna
1915
1918
Served in the Austrian Army and the War Ministry
1921
1921
Performance director, Verein für Musikalische
Privataufführungen (Society for Private Musical Performances)
1922 April
Completed the opera
Wozzeck
1923
1925
Composed
Kammerkonzert,
his first instrumental programmatic
work
1925
Wrote his first 12-tone composition,
Schliesse mir die Augen Beide,
a song setting of Theodor Storm's poem of the same title
1925 December 14
The Berlin State Opera premiered
Wozzeck
under the direction of Erick Kleiber
1927 January
The Kolisch Quartet premiered
Lyrische Suite
at the Baden-Baden
Festival
1928
1934
Composed short score for the opera
Lulu
,
based on Frank Wedekind's plays
Erdgeist
(1895)
and
Die Büchse der Pandora
(1904)
1934
Orchestrated parts of
Lulu
into the concert
suite
Symphonische Stücke aus 'Lulu'
1934 November 30
The Berlin State Opera premiered
Symphonische Stücke aus 'Lulu'
under the direction of Erick Kleiber
1935
Composed
Violinkonzert
1935 December 24
Died from sepsis in Vienna, leaving the third act of
Lulu
unorchestrated
1937
The Zürich Opera posthumously premiered the first two acts of
Lulu
1979 February 24
Friedrich Cerha finished orchestrating an ending for Act 3 of
Lulu
, and the Paris Opera premiered the work in
its entirety
Biographical Note: Willi Reich
Date
Event
1898 May 27
Born in Vienna, Austria
1920
Began working as a music critic for local and international newspapers
and journals
1927
1935
Studied music theory and composition with Alban Berg
1936
1938
Studied music theory and composition with Anton Webern
1932
1937
Edited the newspaper
23 – eine Wiener
Musikzeitschrift
, which promoted music of the Second Viennese
School and other new music
1937
Published, with co-authors Theodor Adorno and Ernst Krenek,
Alban Berg.
Vienna: Reichner
1938
The National Socialists banned
23-eine Wiener
Musikzeitschrift
following the Anschluss of Austria
Graduated with a Ph.D. from Vienna University, where he studied
musicology with Robert Lach, Alfred Orel, and Robert Haas
Emigrated to Basel, Switzerland, and began work as a freelance music
writer
1948
Began work as a music critic for the
Neue
Zürcher Zeitung
1959
1970
Lectured in music theory and history at the Technische Hochschule in
Zürich
1961
Published
Anton Webern: Weg und Gestalt.
Zürich: Verlag der Arche
1963
Published
Alban Berg: Leben und Werk (The Life and Work of Alban Berg).
Zürich:
Atlantis
1968
Published
Arnold Schönberg, oder Der
konservative Revolutionär (Schoenberg:
A Critical Bibliography).
Zürich: Molden
1980 May 1
Died in Zürich
Scope and Content Note
The materials in the Willi Reich Collection on Alban Berg span from 1905 to 1956,
with the majority dating from 1931 to 1935. The [Papers](RB01) series consists chiefly of correspondence between
Willi Reich and Alban Berg dating from 1928 to 1935. It also includes a small number
of telegrams, clippings, and writings. The [Music](RB02) series consists of printed music for Alban Berg’s solo
songs, chamber works, and orchestral compositions. Published articles and programs
accompany several items, and Willi Reich signed or stamped three scores.
Organization of the Willi Reich Collection on Alban Berg
The collection is arranged in two series:
-
[Papers, 1905-1935](RB01)
-
[Music,
1926-1956](RB02)
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Berg, Alban, 1885-1935--Correspondence.
Berg, Alban, 1885-1935.
Berg, Alban, 1885-1935.
Berg, Alban, 1885-1935. Works. Selections.
Reich, Willi, 1898-1980--Correspondence.
Reich, Willi, 1898-1980.
Reich, Willi, 1898-1980.
Subjects
Chamber music--Scores.
Composers--Austria--Vienna--Correspondence.
Songs (Medium voice) with orchestra--Scores.
Songs with piano.
Titles
Alban Berg/Willi Reich collection, 1912-1950
Form/Genre
Articles.
Chamber music.
Clippings (Information artifacts)
Concertos.
Personal correspondence.
Programs (Documents)
Scores.
Song cycles.
Songs.
Writings (Documents)
Container List
1
Papers, 1905-1935
1905-1935
This series primarily consists of approximately 250 letters between
Willi Reich and Alban Berg that date from 1928 October 25 to 1935 November
4. The majority of this correspondence is typescript but also
includes a few holograph or signed letters. This series also contains a
small number of telegrams, clippings, and other writings.
Arranged by format and chronologically therein.
Correspondence
1/1
1928 October 25-1929 December
1928 October 25-1929 December
1/2
1930 January 12-1930 November 9
1930 January 12-1930 November
9
1/3
1931 Fall-1931
October 6
1931 Fall-1931 October 6
1/4
1932 Janury 29-1932 December 1
1932 January 29-1932 December
1
1/5
1933 February
27-1933 December 28
1933 February 27-1933 December
28
1/6
1934 January-1934 December 24
1934 January-1934 December 24
1/7
1935 May 15-1935 November 4
1935 May 15-1935 November 4
1/8
Telegrams, clippings, and writings, 1905, 1934, and
undated
1905, 1934, and undated
2
Music, 1926-1956
1926-1956
This series consists of eight compositions by Alban Berg
published between 1926 and 1956. These printed works include solo songs, instrumental chamber music, and orchestral music.
Notably, Willi Reich signed the music for Adagio (1956) and the full score
for Fünf Orchester Lieder (1953), and stamped the cover of Vier
Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier (1924). Related articles and
programs accompany the music for Berg's Violinkonzert (1936), Le Vin der
Wein (1930), and the undated conductor score for Fünf Orchester-Lieder.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
2/1
2 Lieder, 1955
1955
Text by Theodor Storm
Piano-vocal score
2/3
Adagio aus dem Kammerkonzert, 1956
1956
Score; parts
Note: Signed by Willi Reich
2/2
Fünf Orchester-Lieder nach
Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenburg, op. 4, 1953
1953
Conductor score
Laid in: Printed
article: Rene Lebovitz, "Alban Berg's Five Orchestral Songs."
2/4
Fünf Orchester-Lieder nach
Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenburg, op. 4,
undated
undated
Full score
Note: Signed by Willi Reich
2/5
Kammerkonzert für Klavier und Geige
mit dreizehn Bläsern, 1926
1926
Piano-conductor score
2/7
Vier Stücke für Klarinette und
Klavier, 1924
1924
Score for piano and clarinet
Note: Stamped with Willi Reich's name and address
2/6
Le Vin der Wein, 1930
1930
Score for piano
Laid in:
Articles
2/8
Violinkonzert, 1936
1936
Score
Laid in:
Articles and concert programs