Schoenberg

Question 1

Rhythm

Answer 1

Rhythm is one of the most important musical elements in the piece
There is no clear metre or pulse so the music sounds erratic
Rhythms are complex and fragmented
There is little repetition of rhythms creating a sense of chaos
Use of complex rhythmic devices e.g. sextuplets, triplets, dotted and double dotted rhythms layered on top of one another

Question 2

Instrumentation

Answer 2

Full 20th Century orchestra
Timbre is very important
Use of extremes of pitch and register
Constantly shifting sonorities (different combinations of instruments in different registers)

Question 3

Genre

Answer 3

Expressionism – expresses one mood intently
Schoenberg had very original ideas which were disliked by major composers and conductors of the day
Schoenberg’s pupils took up the style and it became known as the ‘Second Viennese School’

Question 4

Harmony

Answer 4

Pitches and harmonies are used for emotional effect rather than their relationship with one another
The tonal system of keys chords and cadences is not used
Harmonies are often dissonant and chromatic

Question 5

Melody

Answer 5

Atonal
Often disjunct and angular (leaps around)
Not much repetition within the melody makes it sound random and chaotic
Melody notes are shared out between instruments – timbre is as important as pitch (klangfarbenmelodie)
Some of the melody is built from a hexachord (which is a code for Schoenberg’s name) and its compliment
Haupstimme = the principal voice (written in the score to show who has the main melody
Nebenstimme = the secondary voice (second most important melodic line)