The document discusses the Expressionist composer Arnold Schoenberg and his pioneering atonal and twelve-tone compositions. It outlines his career in four periods, from his early Romantic style works through his development of techniques like the emancipation of dissonance, Sprechgesang vocal style, and ultimately twelve-tone serialism. Key works mentioned include Verklärte Nacht, Pierrot lunaire, and the pieces from his Opus 11 and the Society for Private Musical Performances he founded in 1918.

1. Expressionism
Key Terms
• Expressionism
• Vasili Kandinsky
• Emancipation of dissonance
• Klangfarbenmelodie (tone-color melody)
• Atonal music
• Harmonics
• Melodrama
• Sprechgesang
• Basso ostinato
• Twelve-tone composition

2. Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
Style Periodization
1) EARLY (to 1905)
• Romantic style
– Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 (1899)
2) MIDDLE (1905-17)
• Atonal/Pantonal works, emancipation of dissonance
• Expressionism
• Piano Pieces, Op. 11 (1909), Pierrot lunaire, Op. 21 (1912)
3) FALLOW (1917-23)
• Abandon works based solely on unconscious, toward a new
compositional system based on the total chromatic, crafted by
motivic transformation and forms
• Society for Private Musical Performances (est. 1918)
– Frequent repetition of works in different concerts
– Introductory discussions to works performed
– Removal of corrupting influences of publicity
– Guests prohibited, except for visitors from abroad
– Reviews or advertisements of works & artists prohibited
– Judgment discouraged
– Performers selected on interest in the society, not mere
virtuosity
4) MATURE (1923-51)
• 12-tone technique
• 1930s emigrates to California

3. Vassili Kandinsky (1866-1944), Impression III (Concert), 1911

4. Piano Pieces, Op.11 (1909)
No. 1

5. Right: Pierrot by Pablo
Pierrot lunaire (1912) Picasso, 1918
Melodrama
Instrumentation
Piano
Flute (+ piccolo)
Clarinet (+ bass clarinet)
Violin (+ viola) Below: Commedia
Cello dell’arte characters
Voice (Sprechgesang)

6. PART I: The Departure
PART II: Adventures
No. 8 “Nacht”
No. 9 “Gebet an Pierrot”
PART III: Homecoming
No. 18 “Der Mondfleck”

7. No. 9 “Gebet an Pierrot”
No. 18 “Der Mondfleck”

8. No. 8 Nacht (Passacaglia), 1912, page 1