SerialismBreakdown of tonalitySchoenberg Verklarte Nacht (1899)Abandonment of tonalitySchoenberg Six little pieces for piano (1911)Schoenberg was also a painter this is a self-portrait

Another way?Schoenberg felt the need for a new way of writing extended pieces without relying on keySuite for Piano (1923) was his first serial piece ie a piece based on a series or tone row (sometimes called a note row)http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/profiles/schoenberg.shtml

Not just SchoenbergAlthough Schoenberg was credited with the tone row idea, another composer seemed to be thinking the same way.Josef Hauer wrote a song in 1922 which uses 12 note techniques

This is a fairly simple example of how to use a tone row

More examplesStravinsky hopped on the serial bandwagon for a timeBelow is an example of one of Stravinskys tone rows

Listen to Stravinskys FanfareRhythm plays a large part in this, as you would expect of a fanfareThere is very little sense of pulse, but with quick repeated notes, the piece sounds very excitingStravinsky by Picasso

How a tone row worksPrime Order (P) is the original note rowThe Prime Order of Stravinskys Fanfare is shown below:

The row can be developed by turning it upside down. This is called an inverted order (I)To invert, start on the first note and move the same intervals, but in the opposite direction.

You can also play the row backwards. This is called a retrograde order (R).

A retrograde inversion (RI) would be backwards, and upside down!

TranspositionYou can also transpose the row any number of semitones up or down.The example below is RI6, the retrograde inversion transposed up six semitones.

VerticalisationYou can also have chords made from the notes of a tone row. This is called verticalisation.

Whilst we have been using a Stravinsky piece as an example, Stravinsky only used serial techniques in a few of his compositions.Two big disciples and pupils of Schoenberg also worked in Vienna.Anton Webern was Austrian, and a pupil of Schoenbergs.

Webern Variations for piano op27Listen to the Webern Variations. Webern took Schoenbergs serial techniques very seriously and used them in most of his pieces.Weberns pieces were often very short more intense than his serial friends!See next slide for a picture of Webern.

http://www.wwnorton.com/enjoy/shorter/composers/webern.htmAnton Webern1883-1945

Canonic StructureWebern often used Canonic structure in his pieces.His canonic pieces were characterised by huge melodic leaps, intertwining melodies and much use of verticalisation.He also structured his piece by use of motives

Other important characteristics of Weberns VariationsMonophonic textureMuch use of different articulation marks and dynamicsSimilar to pointillist paintingSeurat: Sunday afternoonon the island of La Grande Jatte

Alban Berg (1885-1935)Berg was another pupil of SchoenbergsBergs brand of serialism was perhaps less strictHis famous violin concerto is composed using serial techniques, but is much more Romantic soundinghttp://www.karadar.net/Dictionary/berg.html

Serialism in a nutshellDeveloped in the early 20th century by Arnold SchoenbergBased on a 12-note row which can be used in Prime order (P), inversion (I), retorgrade (R) or Retrograde Inversion (RI)Dont forget other techniques such as transposition and verticalisationBerg and Webern, and later Stravinsky, all used serial techniques in their work

Play examples of these pieces from NaxosShow example of scores from bothPlay suite for piano from Naxos