While Berio based his Recital I on selected fragments of Cathy Berberian's repertory, the Chemins are modeled on the Sequenzas for solo instruments, thus on complete self-sufficient works. The composer expanded the instrumental texture in order to create "sonic aggregates" that could obscure the original structure completely. The resulting piece in turn could become the basis for further extensions: Chemins IIb-IIc and Chemins III are based on Chemins II and thus ultimately on Sequenza VI. "Each new layer creates a new, though related surface, and each older layer assumes a new function as soon as it is covered" (Berio).

Works: Berio: Chemins I, Chemins II, Chemins IIb, Chemins IIc, Chemins III, Chemins IV, Sinfonia, third movement, Recital I.

Index Classifications: 1900s

Contributed by: Andreas Giger