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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'
(1907)
An

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/ITba7KcWEhk/UC9ZgjiAy_I/AAAAAAAAAJM/UNV52zaun3Q/s1600/images.jpeg]
AlbanBerg(18851935)

Leukon,then,representstheirunfailingmutuallovebothatthebeginningoftheirlifetogetherand
atitstragicend.Inhis23rdyear,Bergwassayingbymeansofthissong:"Helene,youaremyOne,
myonlyOne."Afterhisdeath,shereciprocated,withouttellingasoul:"Alban,youarestillmyOne,
myonlyOne.

ListentoAnLeukonhere[https://soundcloud.com/coolwindmusic/anleukonalbanberg
18851935?in=coolwindmusic/sets/fourbergsongsorchchris]

AlbanBerginpre1914Vienna
Bergisoneofthemostfascinatingcomposerstoemergefromtheartisticmaelstromwhichwaspre
1914Vienna,hisbirthplace.HisonlyformalmusiceducationwashisstudieswithSchnberg,who
nurturedandencouragedtheshy,hesitantyoungstertoproducesuchworksasthepowerfulThree
Piecesforlargeorchestra(1914)andthebeautifulyetenigmatic'AltenbergSongs'or'Songstopicture
postcardtexts'(1912).
HewasinvalidedoutoftheAustrianArmyafterservingbrieflyasanartilleryofficerbetween1915
1917,experiencewhichheputtogooduseinhisfirstopera,andbestknownmasterpiece,Wozzeck
(1921).Hisfameandmusicalpowersgrewfromthe1920suntilhisuntimelydeathattheageof50,
manifestinginsuchdramaticmusicaltextsastheChamberConcertoforViolin,PianoandWinds
(1925),hissecondoperaLulu(unfinishedathisdeath)andarguablyhisfinestwork,anoutpouringof
griefandecstasy'tothememoryofanAngel'theViolinConcerto(1935).

AnLeukon
AnLeukon,asettingofapoembythe18thcenturyGermanpoet,JohannWilhelmLudwigGleim,was
oneofBerg'syouthfulcompositions.Hewroteitin1907,whenhewasinthethirdyearofhisstudies
withArnoldSchnberg.Inall,Bergwroteover80songsbeforeandduringhisstudieswithSchnberg,
mostofwhichhesuppressed.Hedidrelentinthecaseof7songswhichwerepublishedin1928.They
werepublishedin2versions:intheoriginalvoiceandpianobutalsoinhisownorchestral
arrangements.These"SevenEarlySongs"havenowbecomefirmfavouriteswithorchestrasand
audiencesalikeandhavereceiveduncountableperformancesandbroadcastsinthelast78years.
ThiswasnottobethefateofAnLeukonwhichfirstremainedknownonlytoBerg'swifeHeleneand
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

possiblyoneortwoothers.However,itdidappearinprintin1937,inabiographyofBergwrittenby
hispupil,WilliReichentitled:AlbanBerg.MitBergseigenenSchriftenundBeitrgenvonTheodor
WiesengrundAdornoundErnstKrenek,HerbertReichnerVerlagWien,1937(AlbanBerg.With
Berg'sownarticlesandcontributionsfromTheodorWiesengrundAdornoandErnstKrenek).Reich
includeditasaquaintexampleofBerg'searlystyle.From1937,itwasonlyknowntothosewhohad
readtheReichbiographyanditwasn'tuntilthe1980sthatitwaspublishedbyBerg'smusicpublisher,
UniversalEdition,Vienna.
ThearrangementIhavemade(UniversalEditionUE33811)isintendedtobeperformedwiththe7
publishedsongsandenhancesthecycleslateromanticsumptuousness.AlthoughBergemploysahuge
orchestraforhisownsettingsofthesongs,oneofthem(DieNachtigallTheNightingale)isarranged
formultidivisistringsaloneanditisthissongthatIhaveusedasamodelforthesettingofAnLeukon.
IhopethatitwillbeinterpolatedintoperformancesoftheSevenEarlySongstogiveaudiencesa
furtherglimpseofwhatthe22yearoldBergwaswriting.So,thegminorversionofthesong1,the
basisofmyorchestration,hasbeenmoreorlesshiddenawayforover100years.Asacompaniontothe
otherorchestralsongs,ithasnowbeenheardfivetimes.Still,thereceivedwisdomofthosefamiliar
withBerg'scanonofearlysongsthathasbeenappliedtoAnLeukon,incommonwithallhisother
unpublishedsongs,isthatBergwasdissatisfiedenoughwiththissongtorejectitwhenchoosingthe
songsforthecycleoforchestralsongs(theSevenEarlySongs)completedin1928.

HiddenMeanings,InnerMeanings
Averytriteandsuperficialreasonforthisisnotdifficulttofind.Gleim'spoemisaboutacting
immediately,notputtingthingsoffuntiltomorrow,havingthecourageofyourconvictionsdeclare
yourlove,stealthatkiss,etc.Themusic,however,isnotfullofurgency.Itisinnohurryandalthough
itbuildsitselfintoanimpressiveclimax,itisquitelugubriousincharacter.Despitethis,itisvery
evocative,nottosaypassionate,andthereforedeservestobeheardmoreoften.Therethecasehas
restedsinceWilliReichpublishedAnLeukonin1937,sayingonlythatitwasanexampleofBerg's
'youthfulstyle'.IsthisBerg'srealreasonforexcludingit,though?
Thereissomethingveryinteresting,nottosayverypersonal,aboutAnLeukonwhichhasledmetodo
abitof'detectivework'.Firstofall,thesongis23barslong.Thisisnotinterestinginitselfexceptfor
thefactthat23isBerg'spersonal'Fate'number.Thequestionis:hasthishappenedbyaccidentorby
design?Ifitisthelatter,thenwecanonlyguessatitssignificanceherebutIthinkitisinconceivable
forBergtohavecomposedasongof23barsandforthatfactnottobeimportant.Thismeansthatthere
mighthavebeensomethinginhislifewhichhethoughtheshouldn't'putoff'.Wecanneverknowfor
certainbutwecanspeculate.Thisiswheremylittlebitof'sleuthing'comesin.
Thisisthequestiontobeposed:isthereapossible'innermeaning'whichBerghashiddenbeneaththe
notesofthissong?Ithinkthereis.WeknowthatBergmetHeleneNahowski,hisfuturewife,atthe
ViennaHofoper(theRoyalOpera)duringthe19067seasonand,byEaster1907,afriendshiphadbeen
firmlyestablished.Itisduringthesameyear,1907,thatBergwroteAnLeukonapuzzlingly
contradictorysong.Whilethepoettalksofurgency:'Don'tputoffuntiltomorrowthethingsinyour
heartyouwanttosayordo!',Bergchoosestomatchthesesentiments,notwithhurrying,scurrying
musicasyoumightexpect,butwithpassionate,sumptuous,ravishingmusic.Why?
Ifwestartwiththescantevidencewehaveconcerningwhenthesongwaswrittenanditsclosenessto
thetimeofhisfirstmeetingswithHeleneNahowski,wecanaddsomethingelse.WeknowthatBerg
wasshy,thathelackedselfconfidenceandthathewashesitantandwaslackingalsoinselfbeliefas
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

farashiscomposingwasconcerned.Thesewereengendered,inpart,byhistwolifelongphysical
afflictions:severeasthmaandaweakheart.Puttingthesethingstogether,wecanspeculatethatthisis
whatthemusicexpresseslikea'dissonantcounterpoint'tothefeelingsexpressedbythetext:'Don'tbe
shy!''Seizethemoment!''Saywhat'sonyourmindandinyourheart!'.
Ournextclueisthenumber23.This,asmentionedatthebeginning,wasBerg's'Fateful'number.This
originatesfromthedateofhisfirstasthmaattackwhichhappenedon23July1900,justunderfour
monthsafterthedeathofhisfatheron30March1900.Fromthattimeon,23anditsmultiples(46,69
etc.)wasgivenaspecialsignificanceinhisscoresandsothefactthatAnLeukonhas23barscannotbe
ignoredbyanyonewhohasstudiedBergandhismusic.Ithinkwecanassume,therefore,thatthissong
meantsomethingtoBergandwasanextrareasonwhyhedidn'twantitpublishedorperformed.There
seemtobeotherenigmatic,crypticcluesofferedherewhich,althoughtantalising,donotofferany
conclusiveproofofa'secretmessage'butnonethelessaddsomethingtothe'gestalt'whichsuggeststhat
BergpouredouthisfeelingsforHeleneinthissong.

ThePuzzleofGleim'sPoem

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/
NKlbJuDCHsg/UIV9CUTxkNI/AAAAAAAAANI/ZJlb82f5IjA/s1600/JohannGleim.jpeg]
JohannWilhelmLudwigGleim
(17191803)

Next,thereisapuzzleconcerningthetext.BerghassetapoembyJohannGleim,anobscure18th
centuryGermanpoet.Thismayofferusafurtherclue.Berg'stasteinpoetrywasforfashionable
contemporarywriters:Rilke,Storm,Schlaf,Hartleben.Hedidincludeapoembyapoetofaprevious
age,NikolausLenau(18101850),intheSevenEarlySongsbut,byandlarge,hepreferredthetextsof
thosepoetsmovinginthefashionableViennesecirclesinwhichhe(andHelene)movedoraspiredto
move.HealsousedthepoetryofsomeofGermany'sgreatestwritersincludingGoetheandHeinebut
thiswouldnothavebeenthoughtoddorquaint.Thesepoets,aswellasSchillerwerestillconsidered
the'gods'ofGermanliteratureanditwasalmost'derigeur'foryoung,aspiringcomposerstosettheir
lyrics.PerhapsweshouldaskwhyBergchoseGleimandhisratheroldfashioned,sermonisingtext
(althoughitdoescontainsomefaintlyhedonisticadvice:"Drinkandkiss!")whentherewasplentyof
materialmuchmoretohistastereadytobeforgedintosongs?Ifweposethisquestion,themostlikely
answeris,again,thatthetexthasaspecialsignificance.Thislittlecluethenaddstothebodyof
evidencewhichmakesthehypothesismoreplausible.

MusicalCodes

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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/U_moU7kpnw/UIUsayQl8YI/AAAAAAAAAMU/5rctN0H_a_I/s1600/images3.jpeg]
HeleneNahowski

Weighingupallthis,theremaybeaconnectionbetweenhisblossomingfeelingsforHelene(which
werereciprocated)andAnLeukon.WhatifBergwasmusingsecretlyabout'cementingthefriendship',
'takingittothenextlevel'orevencontemplatingaskinghertomarryhim?Bergisrenownedforusing
thecrypticdeviceofdevelopingnotescellsandmottothemesbyusingtheletterswhicharealsopitch
namesi.e.A,B,C,D,E,F,andG.InGerman,youcanaddEs(Eflat)forSandH(Bnatural).Bin
GermanmusicnotationisBflat.ThemostfamousexampleofthisisBach'snamewhichtranslatesin
musicasBflat,A,C,Bnatural.Berg'susesthesecodestospelloutpeople'snames(or,atleast,partsof
theirnames)andtheirinitials.HedidthisopenlyinhisChamberConcertoforViolin,Pianoand
ThirteenWindInstrumentsusingthemusicallettersofhisnameandthatofhisclosefriendsArnold
SchoenbergandAntonWeberntocreatemottothemeswhichareheardatthestartoftheConcertoand
developedextensivelyduringthework.Heusedthesamedevice,secretly,inthelastmovementofthe
LyricSuitetoexpresshis'eternallove'foranotherwoman,HannaFuchsRobettin,thesisterofAlma
Mahler'sthirdhusband,FranzWerfel.
ToreturntoAnLeukon.Atcertainpointsinthescore,wefindBerg'sinitials(A,Bflat)juxtaposed
withH(Bnatural)forHeleneandA,H,Es(A,Bnatural,Eflat)takenfromhersurname:Nahowski.
Fortuitously,theAHinNahowskialsocorrespondstotheircombinedinitialsi.e.AHforAlbanHelene.
ThekeyBergchoosesforthesongisGminorwhich,initsmelodicmode,providesallthese'cryptic'
notes.ThismakesiteasyforBergtoassemblehissecretcode.Iliketothinkthathefeltencoding
Nahowskianespecialchallengeforifhecouldovercomethischallengewhathewishedformightcome
true.Again,ifIamrighthere,itdidcometrue!Hisownnamewasfareasiertoencodesothatwould
havebeenfarlessofachallenge!Inaddition,therangeofthesong(lowBnaturaltotopBflat)
translatesasHBorHeleneBerg!ItisimportanttorememberthatBergcomposed'AnLeukon'four
yearsbeforehismarriagetoHeleneon3May1911.
TheexamplesIthinkIhavefoundarebasedbothontheirnames(asabove)andontheircombined
initialsashusbandandwife,
ABH(AlbanBergHelene[Berg](A,Bflat,Bnatural),whichbyhappycoincidenceformalittle
upwardschromaticsequenceandalsoin2placesAHAlbanHelene!

CluesfromGreekMythology
Therearetwootherclues.Thefirst
concernsthetitleofthepoem(and
song)AnLeukon.InGreek
mythology,Leukonwasoneofthe
humanoffspringofthegod,
Poseidon(Neptune),thegodofthe
oceansor,moreprecisely,thegodof
theMediterraneanSea.Leukonhasa
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

furthermeaning,however.Itisthe
ancientGreekforwhite.Berg'sfirst
name,Alban,derivedfromLatin
(albus),alsomeanswhite(asin
albinoandalbumeneggwhite).It
isnotinconceivable,therefore,that
Bergisaddressinghimselfinthis
song.Heseemstobesaying:"Listen
tothis,Alban.Thisadviceisfor
[http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html]
Poseidon[http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html]
you!"Thereisanotherpointof
interest.Inmylittleclassical
dictionary,whichIinheritedfrommyfather,IreadthataccordingtoGreekmythology,Poseidonbuilt
thewallsofTroy.WhowasthemostfamouspersonconnectedwithTroy?Why,Helen!Sowehavea
littlemythological'constellation'ofPoseidonLeukon(Alban)Helen(Helene).IamsureBergwould
havehadaclassicaldictionaryinhislibraryitwasanessential'tool'forunderstandingand,therefore,
appreciatingGreekandRomanliteratureand,ifso,hewouldhavebeenabletomakethesame
connections.

[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/oc1L1r_EjbM/UmO7mbG3Y_I/AAAAAAAAAsM/1K33dCUxWHQ/s1600/Berg
+Im+Morgengrauen+(K.+Stieler).jpeg]
ApagefromanearlysongofAlbanBerg:
ImMorgengrauen(1904/5)(KarlStieler18421885)
(ThispianoscorewasmadebyHermannWatznaueraBergfamilyfriend.)

WilliReichsBiographyofAlbanBerg
ThefinalclueconcernsthefirstpublicationofthesonginWilliReich'sbiographyof1937.
(Interestingly,hebecameapupilofBerg'sin1928,theyearinwhichtheSevenEarlySongswere
published.)ItisoddthatofallthesongsDoctorReichhadtochoosefrom,heselectedAnLeukon.Or
wasitlikethat?WeknowthatBergdidn'twanttheseearlysongstobebecomepublic.Wealsoknow
thatafterAlban'sdeath,Helene,rightuptoherdeathin1976,jealouslyguardedhislegacy.She
allowednothingtobepublishedwhichBergwouldnothavewishedtobepublished.Andyet,lessthan
2yearsafterAlban'sdeathinDecember1935,sheallowedthissongtoappearinprint!Iwonder
whetherAnLeukonwastheonlysongDoctorReichwasallowedtosee.IfHelenehadallowedReich
toseeotherexamplesofBerg'searlysongs,whatcouldherreasonsbeforsuggestingAnLeukon?

Whatifshewantedtoshowtheworld,bygivingherconsenttothepublicationofacodedsongof
Berg's,thatshewashisfirst(andasfarasshewasconcerned)hisonlylove.Andwhywouldshewant
todothis?Bythattime,thatis,1937,sheknewabout'Mopinka's'HannaFuchsRobettin's'romantic
connection'withherlatehusband.Itwouldhaverankledenormouslyandnowtherewasthedangerthat
thisinformationwouldleakout.Someonemight'spillthebeans'.Theaffairmightbecomepublic
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

knowledgeanddamageBerg's,bynow,internationalreputation.Perhaps,byallowingAnLeukoninto
thepublicdomain,shewantedtosendoutamessagetotheworld,eitherconsciouslyorunconsciously,
thatshehadhadnorivalsforAlban'saffections,thathehadlovedonlyherinanytruesense!Thereis
evidencefromherletters(particularlytoAlmaMahlerWerfel)thatshethoughtthis.
AmIrightinthesetheseassumptions?IhavetoadmitthereisnoevidencethatIknowofwhichproves
thatBerghaswrittena'secretprogramme'intothissong.Hesuppressed'AnLeukon'evenafter,atthe
requestofEmilHertzka(thefounderofUniversalEdition),helookedthroughhisyouthfulsongsin
1928andselectedthesevensongswhichheorchestratedandsawintoprint.Ifwetakeinto
considerationthefactthatby1928,Berghadfoundanotherobjectforhispassion,HannaFuchs
Robettin,thenitisentirelyunderstandablethatherejectedthesongwhich,morethananyoftheothers,
mayhaveremindedhimoffallinginlovewithHelene21yearsbeforeandnaturally,onseeingitagain,
hewouldhavefeltconflicted.Inotherwords,hismotiveswouldhavebeenincomplete
contradistinctiontoHelene'sofnineyearslater.Itisinterestingtopointoutherethatthenamesofthe
twomostimportantwomeninhislifestartwith'H'.Thatfactmayhavemadehisconfusedfeelingsall
themorepoignant.

AnLeukonRejected
Ofcourse,itispossiblethatherejectedAnLeukononpurelyartisticgroundsalthough,evenifthis
werethecase,Iwouldhavetodisagreewithhisdecision.Perhapsitlacksthesubtlesophisticationof
someoftheSevenEarlySongs,forexample,Nacht(Night)andTraumgekrnt(Dreamcrowned).It
alsodoesnotsharetheirhintsatexpressionismanddaring,chromaticharmonies.Despitethis,An
Leukonisasbeautifulastheothersintenseandglowingwithyouthfulandinnocentlypurepassion.
AsIhavepointedout,however,thereisanunfortunate'dissonance'betweenthewordsandthemusic
which,Ihope,Ihaveshownisintentional.
Thereisonefinalpieceofthe'jigsawpuzzle'whichIbelievetobethemostimportantandconvincing
evidenceofAnLeukon'splaceintheheartsofAlbanandHelenewhenconsideredwitheverythingelse
Ihaverevealed.Forthispieceofthe'puzzle'wehavetoreviewsomeoftheeventssurroundingBerg's
unexpectedanduntimelydeathattheageofonly50fromsepticaemiawhichresultedfromanabscess
whichdevelopedafterBergwasstungbyawaspduringhislaststay,duringthelatesummerof1935,at
theircountryhome,theWaldhaus,inAuenontheWrtherseeinCarinthia(Krnten)insoutheast
Austria.
Atfirst,thewaspstingjustseemedanannoyancetoBerg,althoughweknowfromhisletterstoHelene
that,followingawaspstingwhilestayingathisparents'summerresidence,theBerghofonthe
OssiacherseealsoinKrnten,inJuly1909,hismiddlefingerofhisrighthandbecameveryswollen
whichpreventedhimfromwritingorplayingthepiano.Hewould,nodoubt,havebeenawarethat,
sufferingfromasthmaand,havingbeendiagnosedashavinga'smallheart'(KleinHerz)condition,he
waspronetoanaphylacticreactionstoinsectstings.Inanyevent,hereturnedtoViennatocontinueto
orchestratetheViolinConcerto,hislastcompletedwork,whichhewaswritingtoacommissionforthe
violinist,LouisKrasner.Hewasmostanxiousto'gettheconcertooutoftheway'sothathecould
continuetoworkonLulu,hislastopera,whichwas,tragically,leftunfinished.2
WhenhereturnedtoViennaandtoHeleneintheirapartmentatTrautmannsdorfgasse,Hietzing,he
discoveredthesiteofthestinghaddevelopedintoaboil.HeshowedtheboiltoHeleneandtheymay
havediscussedwhetherheshouldseeadoctoraboutit.Likemanymen,Bergdidn'tlikedoctorsand
anotherfactormadehimhesitate.Althoughhisreputationandsuccesshadbeensteadilygrowingsince
thefirstperformancesofWozzeckinBerlinin19256,aftertheNazisassumedpowerinGermanyin
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

1933,hehadbeendeclared,likemanyJewishcomposers,althoughhewasn'thimselfJewish,a
degenerateartist.Guiltbyassociationwasthe'nameofthegame'theNazisplayedwithBerg.This,as
youcanimagine,hadseverelyaffectedhisroyaltyincomeonwhichhehadgrowntorely.Hewas
reluctanttovisitadoctor,then,becausehewasworriedaboutthecost.Hesoughttodealwiththe
matterhimself.Wealsoknowthis:Helenebecamemoreandmorefrustrated(andprobablyworried)
thatAlbanwasprevaricating.Atthesametime,theirclosefriendSomaMorgenstern,beggedthemboth
nottotakemattersintotheirownhandsandrecommendedadoctorforwhomhehadthehighest
regard.Berg,Ithink,triedtolessenSoma'sconcernbyanactofbravura(hedidn'tneedadoctorhe
wouldbefine)whichdidn'timpressSomaatall.HeagainbeggedAlban(andHelene)toseethedoctor
heknewandhegaveAlbanthisdoctor'scard.

ATragicEvent
AlbanandHelene,forwhateverrealreason,didn'ttakeuptheirfriend'ssuggestion.Intheend,Helene
lancedtheboilwithapairofscissors(nailscissors,Isuspect)whichshehadmerelyimmersedin
boilingwater.Shedidnotseemtobeawarethattopreventsepticaemia,sheshouldhavecauterisedthe
abscessbyheatingthescissorstoadullredcolourinanakedflamethusensuringtherequired
temperaturehasbeenreached.Thescissorsshouldthenhavebeenallowedtocoolbeforeusebutit
wouldstillhaverequiredalocalanaesthetictobeadministeredfirst.SomaMorgenstern'sfearswerenot
unjustified.AfterHelenelancedtheboil,Albanseemedtobewellforafewdays.Thenthefirst
symptomsofbloodpoisoningstartedtoappearandalarmbellsstartedtoring.On16December1935,
thepainthathehadbeensufferingsuddenlyceased,possiblysuggestingthattheabscesshadburst
internallyandthepushadenteredhisbloodstream.ThefollowingdayhewastakentotheErzherzog
(Archduke)RudolfHospitalwherehewasoperatedonbutthesourceoftheinfectioncouldn'tbe
ascertained.On19December,hewasgivenabloodtransfusionafterwhichhejokedtoWilliReichthat
hehopedhedidn'tnowturnintoacomposerofkitschoperettas.ThenextfewdayspassedwithBergin
reasonablecomfortbuton22Decemberhisimmunesystemgaveoutand,bearinginmindhisheart
conditionmayhavebeenacontributoryfactor,hebeganaslowdeclinewhichendedwithhisdeathon
24December1935at01:15hours.Hehadsurvivedthefateful'23rd'byalittlemorethananhour.In
hislastmomentsandinastateoffeverinduceddelirium,heappearedtobeconductingpassagesfrom
Lulu.Hislastwordswere:'EinAuftakt!EinAuftakt!''Anupbeat!Anupbeat!'
HelenewasinconsolablewithgriefafterAlban'sdeath,theoneandonlytrueloveofherlife.Shewas
insuchastateofmentalandemotionalbreakdownthatshewasunabletogotohisfuneral.Thisis
completelyunderstandable.Thereis,though,somethingremarkableaboutthefuneralwhichtookplace
on28December.Helene,thegreatcomposer'swife,asIhavesaid,isnotamongstthefamilyand
friendsandcolleaguesandrepresentativesoftheCityofViennaandoftheState.

AlbanBergsDaughterAlbineWittula
Thereisaclosefamilymemberpresentwhoformanyyearshadlivedinshadows,atleastasfaras
friendsandcolleagueswereconcerned.ThisisAlban'snaturaldaughter,AlbineWittula(neScheuchl).
AlbinewastheresultofanadolescentliaisonAlbanhadwithMarieSchleuchlin1902.Marie,much
olderthanBerg,shewas32atthetime,wasemployedasakitchenmaidattheBerghof.Albinewas
borninDecemberofthatyearandthewholeaffairwas'hushedup'byBerg'smotherandother
membersofBerg'sfamily.However,BergkeptintouchwithMariesporadicallyandhecertainlykepta
photographofAlbineinhisdesk.Byallaccounts,shewasquitebeautiful,havinginheritedsomeofher
father's'angelic'goodlooks.BergimmortalisedherandhermotherintheViolinConcertowhichwas
notonlyamemorialtoManonGropius,AlmaMahler'sdaughterbyhersecondhusband,thearchitect
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WalterGropius,butalsoamemorialtoatimeofunfetteredpassion,happinessandjoywhichBerghad
experiencedasa17yearoldattheBerghof.TheViolinConcertonotonlyhascrypticcyphersdenoting
Albine's(hispetnameforherwasBinchen)andMarie'snamesbutitalsoincludesaCarinthianfolk
melodytoportrayMarieandthecountrysideinwhichtheyenjoyedeachother'scompany.Thisisn'tthe
placetogointothedetailsoftheirrelationshipbutIwillreferthereadertosourcesfromwhichhe/she
canlearnmore.3
HelenewasvisitedbyAlbinesometimeafterthefuneral.Ascanbeimagined,Albine,whohadhardly
anycontactwithherfatherandwasfeelingthelossofachildforaparent,demandedtoknowfrom
Helenewhyhehaddiedsosuddenly.SheintimatedthatHelenecouldn'thavebeenlookingafterhim
properly.Helene,justasdistraughtasAlbine,cackhandedlyaskedifAlbinewantedmoney!Albinefelt
insultedbythisquestion.Shemerelywantedtoknowthetruth.Theinterviewwasabruptlyendedby
Helene'ssecretary,IgnazFranzoy,whoaskedAlbinetoleave.Theseedwassown,however.Albine
hadexpressedthethoughtthatsomeofBerg'sfriendshadsilentlyconsideredthatHelene'srashaction
inlancingtheboilonBerg'sbackhadstartedtheballofhislast,fatefulillnessrolling.4
ThereisalittlevignettewhichwecanpictureofthesceneoutsidetheArchdukeRudolfHospitalafter
Berg'sdeath.ItisHelene'ssisterwhoannouncesthesadnewstothefriendsstandingoutside.Helene
standsbesideher,silent,wringingherhandsinabjectgrief.Nothingstrangethere,perhaps,exceptin
psychologicalterms,thereisoftenadesiretoobtaincatharticreliefbytalking,unburdeningtheheavy
loadoflossandlonelinessfeltatsuchatimebysharingthesethoughtswithlovedones.Oftenthe'task'
ofannouncingacloseone'sdeathtofamilyandfriendshelpsthegrievingprocesstocommence.Weare
usuallycocoonedbynature'sanaesthetic,shock,atthismoment,andthereforeprotectedfromanxiety
tosomeextent.Itisalittlecurious,althoughitisveryeasytojudgeHeleneaboutthis,thatshewas
completelyunabletotalktothewaitingcrowdherself.Iwillleaveittothereadertomakeuptheirown
mind.Idon'tneedtoprovethispoint'beyondashadowofadoubt'.
Itistheeventthattookplaceabout18monthsafterBerg'sdeaththatIthinkshowwhatHelene's
unconsciousminddictatedtohertorevealinorderthatshecouldcontinuetolive,tofunctionnormally
ifthatwasindeedpossibleafterAlbanwastakenfromher.IthinkitisnowproventhatAnLeukon
wasaspecialgifttoher.Thesongspokeoftheirlove,notonlywhentheyfirstmet,butalso,asfaras
Helenewasconcerned,whenAlbanwas'involved'withHannaFuchsRobettinparticularlyin1928,
thetimeoftheorchestrationoftheSevenEarlySongs.BerghadmadeHelenepromisenottoshowthe
youthfulsongstoanyone,shebreaksthatpromise.WilliReichacceptsthissong,maybewithout
question,andpublishesitinhisbiographyofBergwhichappearsin1937.Thepossibilitythatindoing
soshewastryingtoassuagetheguiltshewasfeelingisheightenedbythisadditionalfact.
Inmedicalparlance,theleukonisthenamegiventothepopulationofwhitebloodcorpuscles(cells).
Whitebloodcells,togetherwithplateletsareprobablythemostimportantelementsoftheimmune
systemofthebody'sdefencesagainstinfection.Iamsurethatthiswordwouldhavebeenusedbythe
doctorsattheArchdukeRudolfHospitalwhentheyexplainedherhusband'sillnesstoher.Inhergrief
andanxiety,shegropesforsomethingthatwillensureAlban'sforgivenessandprotectionfromblame.
'Ourundyingloveforeachother',wecanenvisageHelenethinking,'istestamenttothefactthatweare
beincapableofdeliberatelyharmingeachother.Whattokencanshefindthatsimplyandundeniably
representsthatlove?Fromtheleukonthedoctorstalkabouttothesong,AnLeukon,whichAlban
wroteforher,isnotagreatleapoftheimagination.It'sthesamewordanditistheancientGreekfor
whiteviaLatin,itisthemeaningofAlban,too.ThesethoughtsmayhavebeenconscioustoHelene.I
can'tsaywith100percentcertainty.Obviously,Iwasnotthere.Itdoesexplaineverythingratherneatly,
though.
So,eitherthenorlater,sherememberedthesongandatsomepointdesired,inorderto'quieten'her
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

innerturmoil,to'giveittotheworld'.Then,asifbyfate,WilliReichcomestoseeher.Hediscusses
withherthebiographyofBergheispreparing.HewasastudentofBerg'sandsoitisentirely
believablethatshewantstohelphiminanywayshecan.Hesitatingly,heasksifhecanincludeoneof
Alban'searlysongs.Sheagreesreadilyandperhapsheissurprisedthatsheneedsnopersuasion.He
wouldhaveknownthatBergdidn'twantanyoftheearlysongspublished.Perhapsitsayssomething
aboutReich'sscruples,too,knowingBerg'swishes.Perhapsheshouldnothaveaskedherinthefirst
place.Again,Iamnotgoingtojudge.Nevertheless,theylookthroughthesongstogether.Whynot
publishthisone,shesuggests,showinghimAnLeukon.Andsohedoes,therebycarryinghertragic
andheartfeltgrief(andpossiblyherprayerforAlban'sforgiveness)withitinthelittlebookaboutBerg
intheformofthepoignantlittlesongwhichBergwroteasa'shelovesmeshelovesmenot'exercise
andashisexpressionofhisfeelingsforherin1907.
AnLeukon,then,representstheirunfailingmutuallovebothatthebeginningoftheirlifetogetherand
atitstragicend.Inhis23rdyear,Bergwassayingbymeansofthissong:"Helene,youaremyOne,my
onlyOne."Afterhisdeath,shereciprocated,withouttellingasoul:"Alban,youarestillmyOne,my
onlyOne."

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/K7EEi2pBYNs/UIUtPhOofxI/AAAAAAAAAMs/QX1zYUKesI0/s1600/images4.jpeg]
HeleneandAlban

Examplesofthecodefound.
Rangeofsong:lowestnote:Bnaturalhighestnote:Bflat.HB(HeleneBerg)
Bar1(pianotrebleinnerpart)HBA[H(elene)B(erg)A(lban)]
Bar2(voice/pianobass)HGEB[H(elene)G(r)EB](Bergbackwards)
Bar6/7(pianobassminimsinoctaves)HBA[H(elene)B(erg)A(lban)]
(Textstartsinbar5:'KeineStundelaentfliehn.''Don'tletthehoursfly.')
Bar11/12(pianobass)AH[A(lban)H(elene)]
(Text:'Gelegenheit''opportunity')
Bar11/12(pianotreble)EEEH[E(n)E(l)EH](Helenebackwards)
(Text:'Gelegenheit''Weitdu...''opportunity''Doyouknow...')
Bar13/14(pianotreblesecondquaverof4thbeat+semibrevesinbar14)AEGB[A(lban)BE(r)G]
(Text:'FlchtigistdieZeit.''Timeisfleeting.')
Bar16(pianotreble)HB[H(elene)B(erg)]
(Text(bars1619):'AufschubeinergutenTathatoftschongereut.''Delayingagooddeedhasoften
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

beenregretted.')
Bar16(pianotrebleinnerpart)HBA[H(elene)B(erg)A(lban)]
Bar16/17(pianotreble)AEsH[(N)A(how)Es(ki)H](NahowskiH)
Bar20(pianobass4thbeatquavers)AH[A(lban)H(elene)]
Bar20(pianobassminims)AH[A(lban)H(elene)]

[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/ilVQVPqvBA/Ul
_FY3cAqI/AAAAAAAAArc/mztiykspEw/s1600/AnLeukonCode.tif]

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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/K7QkGMG97oI/Ul
_OttAVlI/AAAAAAAAArs/bpxzsQoaNt0/s1600/AnLeukonCode2.tif]

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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/
BcXl_T6v2tc/Ul_Ch4XIvrI/AAAAAAAAAr8/AkJRTnDXPZM/s1600/AnLeukonCode3.tif]

[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/
Uk24ciIWglk/Ul_ADOtVZRI/AAAAAAAAArw/9XUlnI88cC0/s1600/AlbanHeleneWedding.jpeg]
HeleneandAlbanBergontheirweddingday:4thMay1911

Notes
1.Thereare2versionsofAnLeukon.TheonepublishedbyUniversalEditioninthesecondvolumeofJugendlieder(UE18144)is
thesecondversion,possiblynotinBerg'shand(itmayhavebeencopiedoutbyhisfriendandmentor,HermannWatznauer).This
versionof'AnLeukon'isineminor.Ithasbeendated1908byChristopherHaileywhoeditedtheUniversalEditioncollectionof
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TheDifficultDecisionTheStoryofAlbanBerg'sSong'AnLeukon'(1907)

earlysongs.Sinceitisinadifferentkey,the'secretcode'isnotpresent.Therefore,ineminor,itisasifthe'code'hasbeenwritten
ininvisibleinksinceakeytranspositionwillinevitablyhidealettercode.TheversionIused(Reich)whichhasthe'code'isinG
minor.Thismeansthatitisthefirstversion(1907)andpresumablyinBerg'shand.TheoriginalisintheMusiksammlungder
OsterreichischenNationalbibliothek(Vienna),F21Berg3(asno.79amongseveralotherearlysongs).
2.TheConcertoAListener'sGuide.MichaelSteinberg(OxfordUniversityPress)2000

3.'FleischundBlut'(FleshandBlood)PatBamfordMilroy(MusicTimes)Winter2002
4.Adornoabiography.StefanMllerDoohm(Polity)2005

20092014ChristopherGordon
Posted21stJune2009byChrisGordon
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