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Arnold Schoenberg. Father of Serialism. Childhood. Born in Leopoldstadt, Vienna on September 13, 1874. Father, Samuel, was a shopkeeper Mother, Pauline, was a piano teacher. At age 8 he began to play violin and remained self-taught until his late teens.
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Arnold Schoenberg Father of Serialism
Childhood • Born in Leopoldstadt, Vienna on September 13, 1874. • Father, Samuel, was a shopkeeper • Mother, Pauline, was a piano teacher. • At age 8 he began to play violin and remained self-taught until his late teens. • His first composition was completed before he turned 9 years old.
Formal Teaching • Schoenberg received some training in his early teens on violin. • At the age of 17 he formally studied with Alexander von Zemlinsky. • Zemlinsky was only three years older than Schoenberg causing the two men to become lifelong friends.
The Missing Link • Schoenberg completed his first significant composition in 1899, a tone poem entitled “Verklärte Nacht” opus #4. It was composed of string sextet. • This piece was base on Richard Dehmel poem of the same name. • “Verklärte Nacht” is the bridge from Romanticism to Impressionism in music.
Evolution Continues • Schoenberg’s next major work was “Pelleas und Melisande” opus #5. Completed in April of 1903. • This piece continues in the impressionistic style and is composed for full orchestra. • Based on the play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck and is greatly influenced by the tone poems of Strauss, Wagner and Mahler.
1903 Continued • One of Schoenberg’s busiest years musically. • Composes many song pieces. “das Wappenschild” and “Natur”: Ochesterlieder. Arranges “Barber of Seville” and “Rosamunde” for two and four hand piano performance. Schoenberg also transcribes several of Wagner’s tone poems and Mahler’s symphonies.
Vienna Schule • Schoenberg is part of the second “Vienna school” at the Schwarzwald Schule and begins teaching here in fall of 1904. • His two main pupils were Anton Werbern and Alban Berg.
Art Work • 1907 sought to expand his expression through painting and diligently worked on perfecting it. • Mostly painted self-portraits but also attempted realistic landscapes, impressionism, surrealism, and stage layouts. • Later used his artwork to invent and innovate: portable music stand, chairs, card games, chess sets, 4 player chess games, tram tickets, and a musical notation type-writer.
Second String Quartet, Opus 10 • Started in spring of 1907 and completed in July of 1908 this piece is the first to use serialism and twelve-tone composition. • This style of composition will become the trademark of Schoenberg and create the Expressionist movement in music.
The Basics • Music is divided into 12 tones. Generally, 8 tones a grouped in scales. The notes are relative to themselves with regards to tension. • Chords are 3 or more tones play simultaneously to create harmony. Chords are relative to each other with regards to dissonance.
Understanding 12 Tone Composition • Schoenberg wanted to use each tone equally and throw away the convention of scales and chords. • He devised “tone rows”, a grouping of 12 notes in sequence.
Rules of Serialism • Each note MUST be played in succession. • Each voice (instrument) may work independently from one another or together in any combination. • Tone Rows may be used to create harmony and can be inverted, truncated, or augmented.
Books and Mentors • In 1911, Schoenberg’s mentor and friend Gustav Mahler passed away. • “Theory of Harmony” was completed by Schoenberg in July and dedicated to Mahler. • For the next several years Schoenberg took many conducting jobs performing the works of his mentor.
…In the Army Now • The Austrian army drafted Schoenberg into service in 1916. • He is declared unfit for duty because he has difficulty breathing. • Schoenberg resumes conducting and teaching in 1918.
Bauhaus • Wassily Kandinsky invites Schoenberg to teach at the Bauhaus school of music in 1923. • Schoenberg declines the Weimar’s invitation due to anti-Semitic sentiments from the administration AND Kandinsky.
Post-Bauhaus • As if to assert his authority in teaching, Schoenberg releases two books on composing and harmony. • He then begins work on his piano works, Opus #23-25. • Schoenberg resumes teaching in Austria, Prussia, and Germany.
Anti-Semitism • For the next 9 years Schoenberg performs his works regularly, each time with more anti-Semitic protest. • In 1933 he travels to Paris for a few months then moves to New York. • Here Schoenberg teaches at the Malkin Conservatory.
City of Angels • Arrives in Los Angeles in 1934 and remains here for the rest of his life. • Here he takes on an American pupil, John Cage and befriends George Gershwin. • Schoenberg is granted on honorary professorship at UCLA, where he teaches and conducts. • Gives lectures at University of Chicago.
My Evolution • Schoenberg gives his famous “My Evolution” lecture at University of Chicago in 1949. • Sensing the end of his life Schoenberg composes Psalm 130, and Modern Psalm in 1950. • Dies in 1951 in L.A.
