Structural encounters: a harmonic, thematic, and formal analysis of Naturale by Luci-ano Berio

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5965/2525530411012026e0108

Keywords:

Naturale, Luciano Berio, Musical Analysis, Sicilian Folk Music

Abstract

This article presents a harmonic, thematic, and formal analysis of Naturale (1985) by Luciano Berio, a work for viola, percussion, and pre-recorded voice that integrates Sicilian folk music with contemporary compositional techniques. Drawing from Voci (1984) and the Corpus di Musiche Popolari Siciliane, Berio constructs a layered musical narrative, combining archival recordings with live performance to explore expressive contrasts and structural cohesion. The analysis reveals how pitch centricity, modular formal design, and thematic transformation shape the work’s dramaturgical arc. Emphasis is placed on the performer’s role in navigating Berio’s intricate interplay between structure and spontaneity, particularly through recurring pitch centers and the integration of folk-derived materials. A section-by-section investigation highlights Berio’s method of structural reuse, harmonic framing, and textural variation, offering insights for both performers and scholars. The study positions Naturale as a hybrid composition that bridges ethnographic authenticity and avant-garde idioms through a multi-dimensional analytical approach.

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Author Biography

Leonardo Piermartiri, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina

Leonardo Piermartiri é professor efetivo de música violino/viola na UDESC (Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina) desde 2004. Possui graduação em Bacharelado em Música pela Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná (1993) e mestrado em Master of Music da University of Cincinnati (1997) nos EUA. Obteve seu diploma de doutorado em Doctor of Musical Arts da Universidade de Maryland (UMD- Maryland, EUA) onde estudou com a renomada violista Katherine Murdock. Com ampla experiência, ele foi membro da Orquestra Sinfônica da Virginia (VSO, Virginia, EUA), tocou e gravou com o Quinteto de Cordas de Santa Catarina e tem se apresentado como solista com a Camerata Florianópolis e Filarmonia Santa Catarina. Em 2019-2020 realizou pós doutorado como pesquisador convidado na University of North Texas-EUA.

References

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PERLE, George. Serial Composition and Atonality: an introduction to the music of Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern. 6. ed. rev. Berkeley; Los Angeles; Oxford: University of California Press, 1991. 164 p.

PIERMARTIRI, Leonardo. Interview with Aldo Bennici: Creation and Interpretation of Luciano Berio´s' Naturale. Opus, v. 25, n. 3, p. 636–647, set./dez. 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.20504/opus2019c2529. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

PIERMARTIRI, Leonardo. New findings of Sicilian folk songs in Luciano Berio's Naturale. Revista Vórtex, Curitiba, v. 6, n. 2, p. 1–19, 2018. Available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369613427. Accessed on: 10 Apr. 2025.

SCHULLMAN, Matthew David Monfredo. Rethinking patterns: associative formal analysis and Luciano Berio's Sequenzas. Yale University ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2016. Available at: https://search.proquest.com/openview/9ae8d92611dabbadaa2bdd41ba6ad666/1?cbl=18750&pq-origsite=gscholar. Accessed on: 10 Apr. 2025.

STRAUS, Joseph N. Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.

TIBY, Ottavio, ed. Corpus di Musiche Popolari Siciliane. Palermo, Italy: Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, 1957.

VENDRASCO, Cecilia. Voci e Naturale di Luciano Berio: procedure di una filiazione. Per Archi, Rome, v. 1, n. 1, p. 47–71, Nov. 2006.

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Published

2026-05-19

How to Cite

PIERMARTIRI, Leonardo. Structural encounters: a harmonic, thematic, and formal analysis of Naturale by Luci-ano Berio. Orfeu, Florianópolis, v. 11, n. 1, p. e0108, 2026. DOI: 10.5965/2525530411012026e0108. Disponível em: https://revistas.udesc.br/index.php/orfeu/article/view/28205. Acesso em: 21 may. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Open-Topic Articles – Continuous Publication

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Leonardo Piermartiri

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