The Early Works of Arnold Schoenberg, 1893-1908 - Tapa dura

Here is the first full-scale account of Schoenberg's early tonal works, a rich repertory that music historians have tended to neglect or view as transitional to a mature atonal style. Between 1893 and 1908, Schoenberg created many genuine masterworks in the genres of Lieder, chamber music, and symphonic music. This book includes detailed critical analyses of such widely admired and performed compositions as Verklarte Nacht, Gurrelieder, and the First Chamber Symphony, as well as discussions of little-known but important songs and instrumental works from the earlier years. Drawing on original manuscript sources, on Schoenberg's musical environment, on a range of analytical methods, and on Schoenberg's own theories, Frisch traces the development of technique and aesthetic across this critical fifteen-year period of the composer's career.

"A book to which I will return for information and instruction every time I wish to talk about, analyze, or write about Schoenberg's compositions of the period 1893-1908."Ethan Haimo, author ofSchoenberg's Serial Odyssey

"This is the first book that adequately considers Schoenberg's musical and aesthetic development in what Frisch persuasively identifies as a coherent group of early works. . . . [It] should spark a debate that will strengthen our understanding of Schoenberg's early tonal artistry."Martha Hyde, author of Schoenberg's Twelve-Tone Harmony