Inspired by Arnold Schoenberg

In 1909, Arnold Schoenberg introduced the world to atonalism. In just three short piano pieces, the Austrian composer exploded the idea of music being tonally or melodically rooted. This ultimately led to his formulation in 1923 of serialism, the technique of arranging all 12 notes of the western scale in a predetermined serial “row” as the basis for an entire piece. For many, including Schoenberg’s pupils Alban Berg and Anton Webern who had already expanded the tonal boundaries of post-Romantic music, serialism was a new way forward. Before long, both full-blown atonalism and serialism took root in Europe and the US, influencing generations of composers to follow. In this thrilling playlist, you’ll hear how Schoenberg jolted classical music into an era of experimentation and boundless imagination, inspiring composers even to this day. Pierre Boulez, for example, wholeheartedly embraced serialism, producing from it a unique type of hyper-modernism. Messiaen blended impressionism and atonality in his search for a new type of expressive mysticism. And film composers such as Jerry Goldsmith saw in serialism a way to capture the essence of a dramatic scene. You’ll also encounter music by Penderecki and by the 20th century’s most important minimalists: proof once again of Schoenberg’s extraordinary cultural reach.