Arnold Schoenberg | Artist
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter born 1874 in Vienna. He played a pivotal role in the development of 20th-century music, being best known for his innovative atonal and twelve-tone compositional techniques. Schoenberg received a thorough education in music theory and composition from a young age, studying with prominent figures such as Alexander von Zemlinsky. Being an Orthodox Jew, Schoenberg was in peril after the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. While on vacation in France, he was warned that returning to Germany would be dangerous, he then traveled with his family to the United States. Schoenberg's early works were firmly rooted in the late-Romantic tradition, but he soon began to experiment with new musical forms and structures. One of Schoenberg's most significant contributions to music was the development of atonality, a style of composition that rejects traditional tonal centres and harmonic relationships. In works such as "Pierrot Lunaire" and "Five Pieces for Orchestra," Schoenberg explored the expressive possibilities of dissonance and chromaticism, pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in classical music. In the early 1920s, Schoenberg introduced his twelve-tone technique, also known as serialism or dodecaphony. This method of composition involves organising all twelve notes of the chromatic scale into a specific order, known as a tone row, and using this row as the basis for the entire composition. Schoenberg believed that this approach would liberate composers from the constraints of traditional tonality and open up new avenues for musical expression. Schoenberg was a prolific composer, writing symphonies, chamber music, operas, and choral works that showcased his mastery of complex forms and structures. His music is known for its intellectual rigor, emotional intensity, and profound sense of expression. Schoenberg was also a respected music theorist and teacher, holding prominent positions at USC and UCLA, where he mentored a new generation of composers, including Alban Berg and Anton Webern. His theoretical writings, such as "Harmonielehre" and "Style and Idea," are considered essential texts in the study of 20th-century music. His influence can be heard in the works of artists as diverse as Pierre Boulez, John Cage, and Stravinsky. Arnold Schoenberg's fearless pursuit of artistic innovation has established him as one of the most important figures in the history of Western classical music. Reflecting on the 'difficulty' of his music, biographer Stephen Walsh concluded, "Schoenberg may be the first great composer in modern history whose music has not entered the repertoire almost a century and a half after his birth".
Artist Website: wikipedia/Arnold_Schoenberg
Featured Albums: Arnold Schoenberg
Related Artists: Gustav Mahler, John Cage, Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen
