Opera and Singing
Schoenberg also wrote many pieces for voice, including Six Pieces for Male Chorus (a cappella).
In Germany, the Männergesangsverein (the male choral society) gave a chance for the men to hang out. Many national associations had choirs, and they even celebrated political solidarity for 100 years of the workers. F. Schubert started writing for them, then others like Strauss, Reger, and Schoenberg. Do you think he did a good job of “modernizing” what was becoming a less popular genre.
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Example by another composer: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’ed (Hindemith).
Other works by Schoenberg:
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FOUR PIECES FOR MIXED CHOIR OP. 27 (Schoenberg)
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THREE SATIRES FOR MIXED CHORUS OP. 28 (each set used different row, rather than the same row like the Wind Quintet or the 3rd String Quartet)
Alliance
Have you even heard your chorus at all? In that case, do you know yourself how beautiful it is? Unprecedented! What a sound! Thoroughly exciting
Anton Webern to Arnold Schönberg, November 1928
“
”
Peace on Earth
Why might he have asked for it to be sung a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment)?
Da die Hirten ihre Herde
Ließen und des Engles Worte
Trugen durch die niedre Pforte
Zu der Mutter mit dem Kind,
Fuhr das himmlische Gesind
Fort im Sternenraum zu singen,
Fuhr der Himmel fort zu klingen:
"Friede, Friede! auf der Erde!"
Seit die Engel so geraten,
O wie viele blut'ge Taten
Hat der Streit auf wildem Pferde,
Der geharnischte vollbracht!
In wie mancher heiligen Nacht
Sang der Chor der Geister zagend,
Dringlich flehend, leis verklagend: "Friede, Friede... auf der Erde!"
Doch es ist ein ewiger Glaube,
Dass der Schwache nicht zum Raube
Jeder frechen Mordgebärde
Werde fallen allezeit:
Etwas wie Gerechtigkeit
Webt und wirkt in Mord und Grauen
Und ein Reich will sich erbauen,
Das den Frieden sucht der Erde.
Mählich wird es sich gestalten,
Seines heiligen Amtes walten,
Waffen schmieden ohne Fährde,
Flammenschwerter für das Recht,
Und ein königlich Geschlecht
Wird erblühn mit starken Söhnen,
Dessen helle Tuben dröhnen:
Friede, Friede auf der Erde!
How many different voices did you hear?
listen here...
There the shepherds their herds
left and the angel's words
carried by the lowly gate
to the mother with the child,
led the heavenly followers
away in the starry space to sing,
continued the sky sounding:
"peace, peace! on the earth!"
Since the angels thrive so,
O like many bloody acts
had the struggle on wild horses,
the armor-clad fully-plowed!
In like some holy night
sang the Choir of Spirits fearing,
urgently imploring, sofly accusing:
"peace, peace... on the earth!"
But it is an eternal faith
that the weaklings not to the robbers
from each shameless murder-gesture
will to-fall always:
Something like justice
wove and produced in murder and dread
and a realm wants to be pleased,
that the peace sought the earth.
Gradually will it be taken-shape,
govern themselves its holy office,
weapons to forge without danger,
flame-swords for the right,
and a royal species
begins to blossom with strong sons,
whose bright pipes roar:
Peace, peace on the earth!