Title: Arnold Schoenberg's embrace of atonality: a brief case study for music educators

Authors: Alexi Harkiolakis

Addresses: The American College of Greece, Gravias 6, Ag. Paraskevi, 15342, Greece

Abstract: Best known for his invention of the 12-tone method of composition, and his freer atonal style before that, Arnold Schoenberg's earlier works sound surprisingly tonal, albeit highly chromatic. In this case study, the author examines and analyses the musical, personal, and socio-political factors that may have influenced Schoenberg to abandon his late romantic style in favour of free atonality. The discussion includes an in-depth aesthetic analysis of the fourth movement of the Second String Quartet Op. 10 for string quartet and solo soprano, which is the first piece that featured this new approach by Schoenberg.

Keywords: Arnold Schoenberg; atonality; music; Second String Quartet Op. 10.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2020.109708

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2020 Vol.11 No.2, pp.95 - 104

Received: 16 Nov 2019
Accepted: 04 Dec 2019
Published online: 21 Sep 2020 *

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