Palindrome Structure. Berg Works

The palindrome structure is one of the prominent features of Berg's Music. In this paper, the writer tries to make a detailed study of the palindrome structures in Wozzek, Chamber Concerto, Lyric Suite and Lulu and the palindrome procedures in Four Songs(Op.2), Altenberglieder, Three Orchestral Pieces(Op.6) and concert aria Der Wein, and discuss Berg's use of the structure in each above-mentioned work and its "programmatic" implication. Combining his own findings with conclusions made by other scholars, the writer brings forth the following two ideas:1. The abundant use of the palindrome structure and procedure in Berg's music show an influence of mysticism among literati of his time, but the most immediate impact on Berg himself comes from the "heavenly time" in Balzac's novel and the "eternal return" in Nietzsche's ideology.2. The interweaving of the palindrome structure with traditional music forms is a reflection of the popular trend of absorbing mysticism into traditional mainstream culture among literati of his time.