1. Arnold Schoenberg
By: Sidney Tigler

2. Biography
Born on September 13, 1874, to a working class Jewish family in Vienna, Austria
Died July 13, 1951, Los Angeles, California
Age 8, he learned how to play the violin and began to compose.
In 1901, Schoenberg married his mentor’s sister, Mathilde.
Mathilde died in 1923; Schoenberg married his second wife 10 months later.
Children: Nuria Schoenberg, Lawerence Schoenberg, & Ronald Schoenberg

3. Early Career Joined the orchestra, “Polyhymnia,” in 1891
Introduced to Alexander von Zemlinsky
Age 20, began his first original composition
May have been considered as one of the numerous births of modern music in 1906
During his “scandal concert” in 1908, he performed String Quartet #2, op.10 and the chamber symphony (op.9) for the 1st time
People disliked his performance and declared the press to call Schoenberg “insane.”

4. Influences Major Influence: Alexander von Zemlinsky
Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss influenced his string sextet, Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), op.4.
Its romantic character and richness in harmony and color are clearly seen.

5. Major Compositions
Moses und Aron (opera), displays the twelve- note series
Pelleas and Melisande (symphonic poem)
Greatest piece-string sextet, Verklärte Nacht, op.4.
-Wrote in 1899
-Based on a mystical poem by German writer, Richard Dehmel
-Used in 1944 ballet, Pillar of Fire
-Utilizes a heavy chromatic post Wagnerian idiom

6. Last Years
In 1933, he left Germany for the U.S. due to the rise of the Nazi Party.
Stayed in Los Angeles
Taught at the University of Southern California and at UCLA
During his last year, he composed more religious pieces
Known as one of the greatest influences in the 20th Century

7. Fun Fact Fear: The number 13
Titled his opera, “Moses und Aron,” with 12 letters instead of 13.
Died on Friday, July 13, 1951 from an unrecovered severe heart attack five years earlier.

8. Sources
composers/schoenberg.html
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