Unleash Schoenberg, Arnold. (1874-1951) Autograph Musical Quotation From Orchestral Variations, Op. 31 Slash 80% Off The Price [wATJvDXo]

Boldly penned AMQS from the Austrian-born composer whose development of the ‘twelve-tone’ system proved to be one of the most far-reaching innovations in the history of 20th century music. On a white card measuring 8 x 5.5 cm, the composer has penned five measures of music, one of the many B-A-C-H symbols used in the Orchestral Variations, Op. 31, and has signed "Arnold Schonberg Berlin 4.VIII.32." In fine condition, sold together with the original transmissal envelope and a halftone photograph, mounted to an album sheet and easily removed.


The Variations for Orchestra, begun in May 1926 and finished in August 1928, is Schoenberg’s first orchestral score written according to his new rules of serialism. The first performance was given on December 2, 1928, in Berlin, with Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting. It takes one of the great, essential forms of Western music and proves its compatibility with atonal music, and specifically, with serialism. Following a massive climax in the first section of the piece, the trombone intones four notes—B-flat, A, C, B-natural—that spell out the name Bach in German notation, invoking the master Schoenberg admired above all others. When The New York Times critic mistakenly wrote that Bach’s name was the theme of the entire piece, Schoenberg was quick to set the record straight, pointing out that this passing, “sentimental” gesture was no different from Beethoven quoting Mozart’s Don Giovanni in the Diabelli Variations.