The composition is scored for a solitary cello and a detuned upright piano, an instrumentation that immediately strips away the grandeur of the orchestral tradition. Steinberg spent the winter of 1963 in a converted barn outside Graz, and the dampness of that season seeped into the wood of the piano. He refused to have it tuned, claiming the imperfections were "the only honest notes left." The cello, therefore, becomes the human element—the voice of reason, or perhaps of longing—attempting to dialogue with an instrument that is slowly decaying.
Historical records show Alma was completely consumed by saving her girls; there is no record of a love affair with a pianist named Miklós. fur alma by miklos steinberg
The piece demands a flexible approach to tempo. Gently slowing down at the end of musical phrases (ritardando) and pushing forward during intense moments gives the work its breathing, human quality. Why "Für Alma" Resonates Globally The composition is scored for a solitary cello