Topic
Expressionism and the music of Arnold Schoenberg.  Musical sources: Six Little Piano Pieces, Op.19, Five Pieces for Piano, Op. 23, Piano Suite, Op. 25, Piano Piece, Op. 33a

Overview
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) helped define the principal lines of stylistic evolution of the first half of the Twentieth-century.  He carried the implications of late nineteenth-century chromaticism to the ultimate consequence and abandoned tonal and harmonic coventions of common-practice music.  The twelve-tone composition technique developed by Schoenberg in the 1920s exemplifies the antithesis of traditional tonality.

Stylistic Traits
* General - uncompromising linear and contrapuntal character.

* Melody - difference between harmony and melody become indistinct--two different ways of presenting the same pitch content; melody is fragmented into motivic units; dominant melodic material is indicated as "Hauptstimme" and Nebenstimme."

* Harmonic language - reflects an evolution of chromaticism to atonality; harmonic structures are formed from tweleve-tone rows; tonal center is avoided, as are intervals of unison and octave.

* Timbre - Coloristic combinations of instruments as an effect; melodic material is shared among instruments (klangfarbenmelodien); idiomatic use of instruments.

* Form - Musical structure becomes "contextual," defined by the referential associations set out within each separate composition.

Activity -  choose one of the following:
* Composition.  Using Schoenberg's principles of the twelve-tone compositional system, compose an original work for an ensemble of instruments or voices performable by members of the class. Turn in the assignment as a printout of the score and parts. It is suggested to use "Finale" or some other music notation software to typeset the example. Include a class handout of the row and the permutations used.  Make copies of the handout for all class members. Be prepared to discuss the compositional techniques in class.  Suggested length: 16 to 32 measures, 1 or 2 minutes.

* Orchestration.  Score one of the short piano pieces composed by Arnold Schoenberg for an ensemble of instruments playable by members of the class. Turn in the assignment as a printout of the score and parts. It is suggested to use "Finale" or some other music notation software to typeset the example. Include a class handout of the row and permutations, or diagram the harmonic language and techniques used in the piece. Make copies of the handout for all class members.  Be prepared to discuss it in class.  Suggested length: 16 to 32 measures, 1 or 2 minutes. 

AND, EITHERÖ
* Prepare a performance of one of the above activities as a conductor or as a participating instrumentalist or vocalist. It is suggested to distribute copies of the music to the performers and rehearse the piece prior to class presentation.

ORÖ
* Using "Performer" or some other MIDI sequencing software, prepare a MIDI performance file of one of the above activities.  Turn in the assignment as a standard MIDI file (.smf) on a diskette.  Be prepared to play the sequence in class.