The 150th Birthday of a Musical Revolutionary: Arnold Schoenberg’s Journey to Atonality and Why I...

On Friday, September 13, fell the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Arnold Schoenberg. More than any other figure, he was responsible for winning converts to the peculiar form of musical rationalism known as dodecaphonic atonality. Whenever I taught music to college students, they always cringed and groaned when I played atonal music to them, but I told them it was good for them to know how even the most unnatural things can become established by intellectual fashion and enforced by patronage and prestige. Plus, it was a lot of fun to see their reactions! Many listeners here will undoubtedly react in the same way. I promise to subject you to only a minute or two of the worst pieces—just enough to offer a taste of whatever concept is being discussed. Persevere: I promise that this article has a lot to offer in regard to the philosophy and theology of music.

[johnqpublic]

The battle over serial atonality is an example of a historical argument that comes to an end because the younger generation cannot even understand what people were talking about.

[benjoyce]

So music fragments ito atonality and we get WWI

[jmm]

I’m confused. The video seems to be a celebration of Schoenbergs history/legacy. Then the description includes this line: “I’ll only include a few of the worst pieces.” Um.. as in, Schoenbergs lesser quality work? His developmental stuff? Or is this a general shot at the value of atonality? Bc he then goes on to say “My students cringe and I tell them anything can be established by fashion.” Um. Okay. Yes, both good and bad things can be established by “fashion”. Obvi I need to finish the video, but I’m confused. Most comments seem to be criticizing serial/atonal as a form also.

Just a personal anecdote here: I would have been scared to complain in my college music course that something was too weird, ugly or incomprehensible. Scared for myself. That I was being complacent, or boring or bourgeois. I’ve been studying music as an amateur, as a hobby for years now, and I don’t have a functional grip on serialism/atonality, but when I see glen Gould play it, I can hear it. It’s good.

One last: the younger/newer generations having lost the appreciation for this form, I hate to do this, but I really do think they’ve been lost to consumerism, trendiness and pop. Even in academia.

[benjoyce]

One more. In heaven before the fall of the angels, Lucifer was in charge of music!