Arnold Schoenberg

Definition

Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter, known for being a key figure in the development of atonality and the twelve-tone technique in music. His innovative approaches reshaped the landscape of 20th-century music, moving away from traditional tonal structures and embracing new forms of expression. Schoenberg's work laid the foundation for the Second Viennese School, influencing a generation of composers and expanding the boundaries of musical expressionism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Schoenberg developed atonality as a way to break free from the constraints of traditional harmony, allowing for greater emotional depth and complexity in music.
2. He created the twelve-tone technique in the early 1920s, which became a fundamental aspect of his compositional style and influenced many other composers.
3. Schoenberg was also a significant music theorist, authoring important texts that discussed his theories on harmony and composition.
4. He was part of the Second Viennese School along with Alban Berg and Anton Webern, who collectively advanced ideas related to atonality and expressionism.
5. Schoenberg's music often reflects themes of anxiety, alienation, and existential struggle, aligning with the broader artistic goals of expressionism.

Review Questions

• How did Arnold Schoenberg's approach to tonality influence the direction of 20th-century music?
  • Arnold Schoenberg's rejection of traditional tonality marked a significant turning point in 20th-century music. By developing atonality and later the twelve-tone technique, he created a new framework that allowed composers to explore emotional depth without being bound by conventional harmonic rules. This shift encouraged others to experiment with form and structure, leading to diverse musical styles that challenged and expanded listeners' expectations.
• In what ways did Schoenberg's work reflect the principles of expressionism in music?
  • Schoenberg's compositions are deeply rooted in expressionism, as they prioritize conveying complex emotions over adhering to formal structures. His use of atonality allowed him to express feelings of anxiety, turmoil, and alienation—central themes in expressionist art. Through intense dissonances and innovative orchestration, Schoenberg's music evokes visceral emotional responses, aligning closely with the broader artistic movement that sought to express inner experiences rather than external realities.
• Evaluate how Arnold Schoenberg's innovations contributed to the establishment of the Second Viennese School and its impact on future composers.
  • Arnold Schoenberg's groundbreaking techniques established him as a leader of the Second Viennese School, which included composers like Alban Berg and Anton Webern. His twelve-tone method provided a systematic approach to atonal composition that deeply influenced these contemporaries and many subsequent musicians. This collaborative environment fostered experimentation with new forms and ideas about musical structure, ultimately transforming how composers approached melody and harmony in the 20th century. The legacy of Schoenberg's innovations can be seen in various modern genres, where traditional boundaries continue to be pushed.

Related terms

Atonality: A musical style that avoids establishing a tonal center, leading to compositions that do not conform to traditional harmonic structures.

Twelve-Tone Technique: A method of composition devised by Schoenberg that uses a series of twelve different pitches in a specific order as the basis for a musical work, ensuring that all notes are treated equally.

Expressionism:

An artistic movement that emphasizes the emotional experience over physical reality, often characterized by bold colors and distorted forms in visual art, as well as intense and dramatic expressions in music.