II. Langsam (Schönberg)

Adaptation of the second of the 6 six 'short piano pieces' which are indicative of the serialist period in which they were written. They are short musical messages which create and follow their own rules; the meaning there you have to find yourself which is sometimes asking a lot from an audience. This one,however, is accessible and I find a joy to play.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Short
• film
• Piano
• Parody
• Serialism
• Expressionism
• Schönberg
• classical

[LemonDavis]

Explain this music to me, please.

[zaxander]

Schönberg, serial composer, wrote these pieces as perfect tiny expressions of a theory : that musical expression could be seen apart from the harmonic conventions in which music until then had been composed. It discards many ideas of melody and harmony instead using a twelve-tone 'serial'. Today, however, people listen to this music as a general cado to the German expressionist movement in art. Hope this helps, Zachàr.

[lourak]

You approach this piece with the seriousness it demands - however - just one comment for now. You must execute the main climax of the piece (40seconds through 43 seconds)with greater intensity - don't be afraid to retard the tempo much, much more as you settle into the final resolved chord - and stay there for a while. The performance will have more power. What about the other 5 pieces?

[zaxander]

Remember, I perform these pieces especially as a dancer would and consider what is required of my whole body in the movement of a hand, and in recording the visual aspect the visual drama of movement. What did you think of the recordings made from above ? Kind regards and thanks again for your helpfully critical comments, Zachàr

[zaxander]

I had similar thoughts about a retard required during a Bartok piece; how slow can you go ? but on listening to it the last few seconds are very important at breaking the only sense of rhythmic repetition that is built up - if I record it again I'll pay more attention

[gerNIB]

Op.19 is not Serialism, but free atonality.

The first twelve-tone composition was the waltz of op.23.

[eonicon]

For all who don't know: Schoenberg op19, 2nd movement...

zaxander: You forgot an 8th at 22'' (Bar 3, 1st half); 37'' legato left hand. please play pianissimo the last passage. Nice idea to use left pedal for the accord, I do it from now on, too!

[kempff95]

this is not schoenberg music!

you playing not schoenberg,,,,,,,

[rpizell]

Im not sure if Schoenberg wrote this, but the performer sure looks like a pompus ass.

[toxiclottie]

i think the pianist made the piece =] he's very animated... personally i hate this music but i need to know the stuff that makes it...