Arnold Schoenberg

20th Century · 1874–1951

Arnold Schoenberg grew up in Vienna, largely taught himself composition, and spent his career convinced that music had to keep moving forward even when audiences resisted. He began as a late Romantic, writing lush string music, then gradually abandoned traditional keys and eventually devised a new system that gave all twelve notes of the scale equal weight. Concerts of his music caused actual riots in Vienna.

He was also a gifted teacher, with Alban Berg and Anton Webern among his students, and a serious amateur painter. Being Jewish, he lost his Berlin teaching post when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and settled in Los Angeles, where he taught at UCLA.

Start with Verklärte Nacht, a warmly Romantic piece for six string players, then try Pierrot lunaire to hear how strange and vivid he later became.

126 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

Chamber Symphony, for 15 Solo Instruments, op. 9
String Quartet no. 2 in F sharp minor, for soprano and string quartet, op. 10
Verklärte Nacht, for string sextet, op. 4
3 Songs without Words, for 2 violins, U. 10
Alliance Waltzer, for 2 violins
Berceuse elegiaque, for piano quintet, flute, clarinet, piano and harmonium
Canon no. 19 for Strings
Canon no. 25 for Strings
Canon no. 27 for Strings
Canon no. 28 for Strings
Die eiserne Brigade, march for 2 violins, viola, violoncello and piano
Emperor Waltz, for string quartet, flute, clarinet and piano
Fantasy for Violin and Piano, op. 47
Mirror canon, for 4 parts
Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, for narrator, piano and strings, op. 41
Presto, for string quartet in C
Quintet for Winds, op. 26
Rosen aus dem Suden, for string quartet, harmonium and piano
Serenade for baritone and septet, op. 24
Sonnenschein, for two violins
String Quartet in D
String Quartet no. 1 in D minor, op. 7
String Quartet no. 3, op. 30
String Quartet no. 4, op. 37
String Trio, op. 45
Suite, septet in E flat major, op. 29
Theme and Variations in G minor, for wind ensemble, op. 43a
Untitled piece in D minor, for violin and piano
Weihnachtsmusik, for 2 violins, cello, piano and harmonium

Keyboard

2 Pieces, op. 33
3 Klavierstücke
3 Pieces, op. 11
5 Pieces, op. 23
6 Little Pieces, op. 19
6 Pieces, for 4 hands
Fünf Klavierstücke
Suite for Piano, op. 25
Variations on a Recitative in D minor, for organ, op. 40

Orchestral

5 Pieces for Orchestra, op. 16
Cello Concerto Based on Monn's Keyboard Concerto in D major
Chamber Symphony no. 2 in E flat minor, op. 38
Pelleas und Melisande, op. 5 Symphonic poem
Piano Concerto, op. 42
Variations for Orchestra, op. 31
Violin Concerto, op. 36
11 Waltzes for String Orchestra
Accompaniment to a Film-Scene, op. 34mu
Chamber Symphony no. 1 in E major, op. 9
Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra Based on Handel's Concerto grosso op. 6 no. 7
Gavotte and Musette, for strings
Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist
Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor for Orchestra
Prelude and Fugue in E flat major
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
Suite in G for String Orchestra
Theme and Variations, for wind band in G minor, op. 43a

Stage

Erwartung, op. 17
Moses und Aron
Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, for narrator, piano, and strings, op. 41
Pierrot lunaire, for voice and chamber ensemble, op. 21 Melodrama
Die glückliche Hand Op.18

Vocal

A Survivor from Warsaw, for narrator, male chorus and orchestra, op. 46
2 Ballads, for voice and piano, op. 12
2 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 1
2 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 14
3 Folksongs
3 German Folksongs, op. 49
3 Lieder, op. 48
3 Satires, for chorus and instruments, op. 28
3 Songs, for alto or bass and piano, op. 48
4 Deutsche Volkslieder
4 Orchestral Songs, op. 22
4 Pieces, for chorus and ensemble, op. 27
4 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 2
6 Orchestral Songs, op. 8
6 Pieces, for male chorus, op. 35
6 Songs, for mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano, op. 3
8 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 6
Als mein Auge sie fand
Am Strande, song for voice and piano
Aprilwind, alle Knospen, "Madchenfruhling"
Brettl-Lieder
Dass gestern eine Wespe Dich
Dass schon die Maienzeit voruber
Deinem Blick mich zu bequemen
De Profundis, op. 50b
Der Pflanze, die dort uber dem Abgrund schwebt
Die Jacobsleiter
Dreimal tausend Jahre, op. 50a
Duftreich ist die Erde
Du kehrst mir den Rucken
Du kleine bist so lieb und hold
Du musst nicht meinen, "Mannesbangen"
Dunkelnd uber den See
Ei du Lütte, partsong for male chorus
Einsam bin ich und alleine
Einst hat vor deines Vaters Haus
Gedenken, song for voice and piano, "Es steht sein Bild noch immer da"
Gott gruss dich, Marie
Gurrelieder for 5 soloists, reciter, chorus, and orchestra Oratorio
Herzgewächse, for soprano, celesta, harp, and harmonium, op. 20
Ich grune wie die Weide grunt
Ich hab' zum Brunnen ein Kruglein gebracht
Im Fliederbusch ein Voglein sass
In hellen Traumen hab ich Dich oft geschaut
In meinem Garten die Nelken
Juble, schone junge Rose
Kol Nidre, for narrator, chorus and orchestra, op. 39
Konnt ich zu dir, mein Licht
Lass deine Sichel rauschen
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, for voice and chamber ensemble
Madel, lass das Stricken, "Nicht doch!"
Mein Herz, das ist ein tiefer Schacht
Mein Schatz ist wie ein Schneck
Nur das tut mir so bitterweh
Peace on Earth, for chorus and chamber ensemble, op. 13
Prelude, for wordless chorus and orchestra, op. 44
Sang ein Bettlerparlein
Schilflied: Drüben geht die Sonne scheiden, song for voice and piano
Sie trug den Becher in der Hand
The Book of the Hanging Gardens, op. 15
Waldesnacht, du wunderkuhle
Wanderlied, op. 8, no.7
War ein Blumlein wunderfein
Warum bist du aufgewacht
Zwischen Weizen und Korn, "Mailied"

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