Written by: Oliver Wren

Arthur Berger: The New Mannerist Composer and Critic

Arthur Berger was an American composer and music critic, best known for his unique style, which has been described as New Mannerist. Born on May 15, 1912, in New York City, Berger's contributions to the music world are still revered today.

Early Life and Education

• Berger studied as an undergraduate at New York University, where he joined the Young Composers Group.
• He went on to pursue graduate studies under Walter Piston at Harvard and with Nadia Boulanger at the Sorbonne under a Paine Fellowship.

Teaching Career

Berger's teaching career spanned several institutions, including:

• Mills College and Brooklyn College, where he taught briefly.
• The New York Herald Tribune, where he worked as a music critic for several years.
• Brandeis University, where he was eventually named the Irving Fine Professor Emeritus.
• The New England Conservatory, where he taught occasionally during his retirement.

Notable Students and Contributions

Berger's influence extended to his students, who include:

• Gustav Ciamaga and Richard Wernick, who studied under him at Brandeis University.

Berger also cofounded Perspectives of New Music with Benjamin Boretz in 1962, which he edited until 1964.

Philosophical Contributions and Beliefs

Berger's writings on music theory and criticism showcase his keen intellect and unique perspective. He coined the terms "octatonic scale" and "pitch centricity" in his seminal work, Problems of Pitch Organization in Stravinsky.

Influence on Modern Society

Berger's work has had a lasting impact on the music world. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1971, and his book on Aaron Copland was reprinted in 1990 by Da Capo Press.

Musical Style and Influences

Berger's music is characterized by its preoccupation with vertical and horizontal musical space. His influences include Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern.

His early works, such as the Serenade Concertante (1944) and Three Pieces for Strings (1945), exhibit a neoclassical style. In the 1950s, he began to experiment with the twelvetone technique, later moving away from serialism towards a more nuanced approach that incorporated tone cluster cells.

Legacy and Impact

George Perle has praised Berger's "keen and sophisticated musical intellect," noting that his serial music was "as far removed from current fashionable trends as his diatonic music was a few years ago."

Berger's contributions to music theory, criticism, and composition continue to inspire and influence musicians and scholars today. His legacy is a testament to the power of innovative thinking and artistic expression.

Timeline of Major Works and Events

• 1944: Serenade Concertante
• 1945: Three Pieces for Strings
• 1950s: Experimentation with twelvetone technique
• 1962: Cofounded Perspectives of New Music with Benjamin Boretz
• 1971: Elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 1990: Book on Aaron Copland reprinted by Da Capo Press
• October 7, 2003: Passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 91