Second Viennese School

Definition

The Second Viennese School refers to a group of early 20th-century composers based in Vienna, primarily Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern, who significantly advanced the techniques of atonality and twelve-tone composition. Their work marked a pivotal shift in music, breaking away from traditional tonality and influencing the course of modern music.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Second Viennese School arose in the early 1900s as a reaction against the constraints of traditional tonality, paving the way for new methods of composition.
2. Schoenberg's development of the twelve-tone technique provided a structured way to create music without relying on a tonal center, fundamentally changing how composers approached harmony.
3. Berg and Webern, while followers of Schoenberg, each developed unique styles that added depth and diversity to the atonal language introduced by the school.
4. The influence of Expressionism is evident in the works of these composers, as they aimed to convey deep psychological and emotional states through their music.
5. The Second Viennese School not only impacted contemporary composers but also laid the groundwork for various avant-garde movements that emerged later in the 20th century.

Review Questions

• How did the Second Viennese School challenge the conventions of traditional tonality?
  • The Second Viennese School challenged traditional tonality by rejecting established harmonic practices and introducing atonality. Composers like Schoenberg moved away from key centers, allowing for greater freedom in musical expression. This shift made it possible to compose without relying on tonal hierarchies, fundamentally altering how music was perceived and created.
• Discuss the role of twelve-tone technique in the compositions of Schoenberg and how it affected his contemporaries.
  • Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique played a crucial role in his compositions by providing a systematic approach to atonality. It involved organizing all twelve notes of the chromatic scale into a specific order or 'row,' which served as a basis for developing melodies and harmonies. This method greatly influenced his contemporaries, such as Berg and Webern, who adapted and expanded upon these principles in their own unique ways, contributing to the evolution of modern music.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the Second Viennese School on contemporary music and its significance in modern composition practices.
  • The Second Viennese School has had a profound and lasting impact on contemporary music, as its innovations paved the way for various avant-garde movements. By breaking away from traditional tonality and establishing new compositional techniques like atonality and twelve-tone method, these composers challenged musicians to explore different forms of expression. This opened doors for later developments in electronic music, minimalism, and other experimental genres, marking a significant turning point in how music is composed and understood today.

Related terms

Atonality: A musical style that avoids establishing a tonal center, leading to a sense of harmonic freedom and dissonance.

Twelve-tone technique: A compositional method developed by Schoenberg that uses all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in a specific order, ensuring that no single tone is emphasized over others.

Expressionism: An artistic movement that sought to express emotional experience rather than physical reality, heavily influencing the music of the Second Viennese School.