Arnold Schönberg

Schönberg, Arnold (Vienna, 1874-1951, Los Angeles), composer, was for a time with the cabaret Das Überbrettl (1901-3), and later took up painting. As a musician he was virtually self-taught. His early works show the influence of Brahms, R. Wagner, and R. Strauss, and an affinity to Jugendstil begins with the string sextet Verklärte Nacht (1899), based on Zwei Menschen by R. Dehmel. The Gurre-Lieder, an opulent setting of poems by the Danish writer Jens Peter Jacobsen (1847-85) in German translation, followed in 1900-13, and Das Buch der hängenden Gärten, poems by S. George, in 1908-9. Schönberg developed an atonal style, represented in his most famous work Pierrot lunaire (1912). In the next decade he elaborated a 12-note system (Zwölf-Töne-Theorie), characterized by note-rows (Tonreihen). The works of his last years show a partial return to tonality.

From 1933 Schönberg lived in the USA. Alban Berg and Anton von Webern (1883-1945) were his pupils and friends. Schönberg published a Harmonielehre (1911) and, in English, The Theory of Composition (1940).

, Arnold 1874-1951.

Austrian composer who developed atonal composition. His works include operas, chamber music, symphonies, and vocal arrangements, such as Pierrot Lunaire (1912).

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: United States composer and musical theorist (born in Austria) who developed atonal composition (1874-1951)
  Synonyms: Schonberg, Schoenberg, Arnold Schoenberg

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