Arnold Schoenberg (13 September 1874 – 13 July 1951) was an Austrian-American composer, music theorist, teacher, and painter. He is known for his pioneering innovations in atonality and the twelve-tone technique, which revolutionized 20th-century music.
Born in Vienna, Schoenberg came from a modest background. His father was a shopkeeper, and the family's financial situation was precarious. Despite this, Schoenberg showed early musical talent, teaching himself to play the violin and later studying with Alexander von Zemlinsky.
Schoenberg's early compositions were tonal, influenced by Richard Wagner and Gustav Mahler. His work evolved through several stages:
Schoenberg was not only a composer but also a significant teacher. His students included Alban Berg, Anton Webern, and later John Cage. His teaching philosophy emphasized the importance of understanding the structure of music and the evolution of musical language.
With the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, Schoenberg, who was Jewish, emigrated first to France and then to the United States in 1933. He settled in Los Angeles, where he continued to compose, teach, and write about music theory. His later works include "Moses und Aron" and the unfinished opera "Jacob's Ladder".
Schoenberg's work has had a profound impact on subsequent generations of composers, even those who did not adhere to his methods. His development of the twelve-tone technique laid the groundwork for serialism, which influenced both classical and avant-garde music. Despite initial resistance, his contributions are now recognized as pivotal in the evolution of music.
Schoenberg wrote extensively on music theory and composition, with works like "Harmonielehre" (1911) and "Style and Idea" (1950) providing insight into his compositional philosophy and techniques.