Description

Arnold Schoenberg (1874–1951) stands out as one of the most significant composers of his era, profoundly shaping the trajectory of twentieth-century music. His compositional evolution transitioned from the rich, late Wagnerian chromaticism to a radical departure from conventional tonality, which he later formalized as "twelve-tone composition." This methodical approach to pitch organization eventually extended to the serialization of all musical elements, marking a revolutionary development that influenced global composition for much of the century.

This edition features two of Schoenberg's pivotal orchestral works, offering music enthusiasts a glimpse into the initial stages of the transformation he instigated. The symphonic poem Pelleas und Melisande (1902), inspired by Maurice Maeterlinck's play, showcases Schoenberg's developing chromatic vocabulary. Meanwhile, the Five Orchestral Pieces (1909) exemplifies the composer's bold venture into a musical realm that eschews both motivic relationships and tonality. Both of these seminal works are presented in authoritative editions.