Canon
Where to start with Schoenberg
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
StagePierrot lunaire, for voice and chamber ensemble, op. 21 — Melodrama
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ChamberVerklärte Nacht, for string sextet, op. 4
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Orchestral5 Pieces for Orchestra, op. 16
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VocalA Survivor from Warsaw, for narrator, male chorus and orchestra, op. 46
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Keyboard2 Pieces, op. 33
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OrchestralCello Concerto — Based on Monn's Keyboard Concerto in D major
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OrchestralChamber Symphony no. 2 in E flat minor, op. 38
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ChamberChamber Symphony, for 15 Solo Instruments, op. 9
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StageErwartung, op. 17
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StageMoses und Aron
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StageOde to Napoleon Buonaparte, for narrator, piano, and strings, op. 41
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OrchestralPelleas und Melisande, op. 5 — Symphonic poem
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OrchestralPiano Concerto, op. 42
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ChamberString Quartet no. 2 in F sharp minor, for soprano and string quartet, op. 10
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OrchestralVariations for Orchestra, op. 31
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Schoenberg's catalogueMost Popular
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Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4string sextet — still tonal, ravishing
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Gurreliederenormous post-Romantic cantata
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Pierrot lunaire, Op. 21
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A Survivor from Warsaw, Op. 46
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Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9
Most Acclaimed
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Pierrot lunairethe pivot point of 20th-century music
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String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10last movement is the first atonal piece
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Moses und Aronunfinished opera — the philosophical core of his life
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Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
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Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16
Most Weird
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Piano Suite, Op. 25first fully twelve-tone work — alien and precise
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Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23
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Die glückliche Hand30-minute monodrama with color-organ stage directions
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Piano Concerto, Op. 42late twelve-tone, unexpectedly lyrical
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Serenade, Op. 24twelve-tone but with mandolin
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 126
- Stage
- ● Pierrot lunaire, for voice and chamber ensemble, op. 21 — Melodrama
- Erwartung, op. 17
- Moses und Aron
- Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, for narrator, piano, and strings, op. 41
- Die glückliche Hand Op.18
- Chamber
- ● Verklärte Nacht, for string sextet, op. 4
- Chamber Symphony, for 15 Solo Instruments, op. 9
- String Quartet no. 2 in F sharp minor, for soprano and string quartet, op. 10
- 3 Songs without Words, for 2 violins, U. 10
- Alliance Waltzer, for 2 violins
- Berceuse elegiaque, for piano quintet, flute, clarinet, piano and harmonium
- Canon no. 19 for Strings
- Canon no. 25 for Strings
- Canon no. 27 for Strings
- Canon no. 28 for Strings
- Die eiserne Brigade, march for 2 violins, viola, violoncello and piano
- Emperor Waltz, for string quartet, flute, clarinet and piano
- Fantasy for Violin and Piano, op. 47
- Mirror canon, for 4 parts
- Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, for narrator, piano and strings, op. 41
- Presto, for string quartet in C
- Quintet for Winds, op. 26
- Rosen aus dem Suden, for string quartet, harmonium and piano
- Serenade for baritone and septet, op. 24
- Sonnenschein, for two violins
- String Quartet in D
- String Quartet no. 1 in D minor, op. 7
- String Quartet no. 3, op. 30
- String Quartet no. 4, op. 37
- String Trio, op. 45
- Suite, septet in E flat major, op. 29
- Theme and Variations in G minor, for wind ensemble, op. 43a
- Untitled piece in D minor, for violin and piano
- Weihnachtsmusik, for 2 violins, cello, piano and harmonium
- Orchestral
- 5 Pieces for Orchestra, op. 16
- Cello Concerto — Based on Monn's Keyboard Concerto in D major
- Chamber Symphony no. 2 in E flat minor, op. 38
- Pelleas und Melisande, op. 5 — Symphonic poem
- Piano Concerto, op. 42
- Variations for Orchestra, op. 31
- Violin Concerto, op. 36
- 11 Waltzes for String Orchestra
- Accompaniment to a Film-Scene, op. 34mu
- Chamber Symphony no. 1 in E major, op. 9
- Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra — Based on Handel's Concerto grosso op. 6 no. 7
- Gavotte and Musette, for strings
- Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist
- Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor for Orchestra
- Prelude and Fugue in E flat major
- Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
- Suite in G for String Orchestra
- Theme and Variations, for wind band in G minor, op. 43a
- Vocal
- A Survivor from Warsaw, for narrator, male chorus and orchestra, op. 46
- 2 Ballads, for voice and piano, op. 12
- 2 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 1
- 2 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 14
- 3 Folksongs
- 3 German Folksongs, op. 49
- 3 Lieder, op. 48
- 3 Satires, for chorus and instruments, op. 28
- 3 Songs, for alto or bass and piano, op. 48
- 4 Deutsche Volkslieder
- 4 Orchestral Songs, op. 22
- 4 Pieces, for chorus and ensemble, op. 27
- 4 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 2
- 6 Orchestral Songs, op. 8
- 6 Pieces, for male chorus, op. 35
- 6 Songs, for mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano, op. 3
- 8 Songs, for voice and piano, op. 6
- Als mein Auge sie fand
- Am Strande, song for voice and piano
- Aprilwind, alle Knospen, "Madchenfruhling"
- Brettl-Lieder
- Dass gestern eine Wespe Dich
- Dass schon die Maienzeit voruber
- De Profundis, op. 50b
- Deinem Blick mich zu bequemen
- Der Pflanze, die dort uber dem Abgrund schwebt
- Die Jacobsleiter
- Dreimal tausend Jahre, op. 50a
- Du kehrst mir den Rucken
- Du kleine bist so lieb und hold
- Du musst nicht meinen, "Mannesbangen"
- Duftreich ist die Erde
- Dunkelnd uber den See
- Ei du Lütte, partsong for male chorus
- Einsam bin ich und alleine
- Einst hat vor deines Vaters Haus
- Gedenken, song for voice and piano, "Es steht sein Bild noch immer da"
- Gott gruss dich, Marie
- Gurrelieder for 5 soloists, reciter, chorus, and orchestra — Oratorio
- Herzgewächse, for soprano, celesta, harp, and harmonium, op. 20
- Ich grune wie die Weide grunt
- Ich hab' zum Brunnen ein Kruglein gebracht
- Im Fliederbusch ein Voglein sass
- In hellen Traumen hab ich Dich oft geschaut
- In meinem Garten die Nelken
- Juble, schone junge Rose
- Kol Nidre, for narrator, chorus and orchestra, op. 39
- Konnt ich zu dir, mein Licht
- Lass deine Sichel rauschen
- Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, for voice and chamber ensemble
- Madel, lass das Stricken, "Nicht doch!"
- Mein Herz, das ist ein tiefer Schacht
- Mein Schatz ist wie ein Schneck
- Nur das tut mir so bitterweh
- Peace on Earth, for chorus and chamber ensemble, op. 13
- Prelude, for wordless chorus and orchestra, op. 44
- Sang ein Bettlerparlein
- Schilflied: Drüben geht die Sonne scheiden, song for voice and piano
- Sie trug den Becher in der Hand
- The Book of the Hanging Gardens, op. 15
- Waldesnacht, du wunderkuhle
- Wanderlied, op. 8, no.7
- War ein Blumlein wunderfein
- Warum bist du aufgewacht
- Zwischen Weizen und Korn, "Mailied"
- Keyboard
- 2 Pieces, op. 33
- 3 Klavierstücke
- 3 Pieces, op. 11
- 5 Pieces, op. 23
- 6 Little Pieces, op. 19
- 6 Pieces, for 4 hands
- Fünf Klavierstücke
- Suite for Piano, op. 25
- Variations on a Recitative in D minor, for organ, op. 40