Arnold Schoenberg

Definition

Arnold Schoenberg was an influential composer and music theorist, known for developing the twelve-tone technique, a method that revolutionized 20th-century music composition. His innovative approaches to harmony and voice leading significantly shaped the understanding of dissonance and tonal structures, impacting how suspensions, phrase types, and voice leading with inversions are perceived and utilized in modern music.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Schoenberg's early works were rooted in late Romantic styles, but he later transitioned to atonality before formalizing his twelve-tone method.
2. He is credited with composing significant pieces like 'Pierrot Lunaire,' which showcases his use of Sprechstimme and expanded harmonic language.
3. Schoenberg's influence extends beyond composition; he also contributed to music theory, providing insights into voice leading and counterpoint.
4. His students included notable composers such as Alban Berg and Anton Webern, who further developed the principles of the twelve-tone system.
5. Schoenberg faced challenges in gaining acceptance for his innovative ideas, often being met with resistance from traditionalists in the musical community.

Review Questions

• How did Arnold Schoenberg's approach to dissonance influence the use of suspensions and retardations in modern compositions?
  • Schoenberg's innovative use of dissonance changed how composers approached suspensions and retardations. Instead of viewing dissonance as something to resolve quickly, he integrated it into his works, allowing for longer tensions that could enhance emotional depth. This shift encouraged later composers to explore more complex suspension techniques that emphasized dissonance rather than traditional resolution.
• In what ways did Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique redefine phrase types and periodic structures in music composition?
  • Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique introduced a systematic approach to organizing pitches that diverged from traditional tonal phrases. By treating each tone equally, he created phrases that lacked a clear tonal center, thus challenging conventional periodic structures. This method allowed for greater complexity and variation in musical forms, encouraging composers to experiment with new phrase lengths and harmonic progressions.
• Evaluate how Schoenberg's contributions to voice leading with inversions altered the landscape of 20th-century music composition.
  • Schoenberg's exploration of voice leading with inversions played a crucial role in transforming 20th-century music. By emphasizing non-traditional progressions and integrating inversions seamlessly into his twelve-tone compositions, he expanded the possibilities for harmonic movement. This encouraged composers to break away from classical voice leading rules, resulting in richer textures and more intricate relationships between voices, ultimately reshaping contemporary music theory.

Related terms

Twelve-tone technique: A compositional method developed by Schoenberg that uses all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in a specific order, avoiding a tonal center and allowing for greater freedom in melodic and harmonic construction.

Dissonance: A combination of tones that creates a sense of instability or tension, which Schoenberg redefined by integrating it into his works, challenging traditional notions of consonance and resolution.

Expressionism: An artistic movement that aimed to express emotional experience rather than physical reality, with Schoenberg being a leading figure in applying this concept to music through heightened dissonance and innovative structures.