Online exhibition in 50 objects
Analysis of Variations for Orchestra, op. 31
Arnold Schönberg
Analysis of Variations for Orchestra, op. 31
Lecture. Typescript. 1931
On the occasion of a performance of the Variations for Orchestra, op. 31, by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hans Rosbaud, Schönberg gave a radio lecture on 22 March 1931 that can be considered his earliest public presentation of fundamental techniques of the twelve-tone method. Above all, the composer wanted to help his public understand the musical coherence of his language. To this end, he translated the theme of the Variations into a tonal version. Schönberg left it for his listeners to form their own opinions on the new version: “Some will find this arrangement better than my original. I don’t like it that much myself, but it is a matter of taste. Why then, when I can write like this, would I provide another accompaniment that will certainly appeal to fewer people? I assure you it is not out of malice. Rather, the theme did not come to mind with this kind of harmonization, and no subsequent artful arrangement could make it actually take on a sense of F major, retaining it, and imposing it on the variations.“
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1
Object 1
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Theory of Harmony
Object 2
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Chamber Symphony, op. 9
Object 3
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
String Quartet No. 2, op. 10/iv. Rapture
Object 4
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Der Blaue Reiter. Almanac
Object 5
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Pierrot lunaire, op. 21
Object 6
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Arnold Schönberg in military uniform
Object 7
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Symphony
Object 8
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Jacob’s Ladder
Object 9
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Five Piano Pieces, op. 23/i
Object 10
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Serenade, op. 24/iii. Variations
Object 11
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Autograph Card with Quote from Gurre-Lieder
Object 12
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Suite for Piano, op. 25/i. Prelude
Object 13
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Suite for Piano, op. 25/iv. Intermezzo
Object 14
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Letter to Alma Mahler
Object 15
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Self-Portrait
Object 16
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
On the Essence of Music
Object 17
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Sketch for Serenade, op. 24/v. Dance Scene
Object 18
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Ruler
Object 19
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Claude Debussy: Sonate pour Violoncelle et Piano
Object 20
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Suite for Piano, op. 25/iii. Musette
Object 21
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Analysis (in the form of Program notes) of the four String Quartets
Object 22
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Twelve-tone selection dial
Object 23
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Letter to Arnold Schönberg
Object 24
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Four Pieces for Mixed Chorus, op. 27/iv
Object 25
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Presentation of the Idea
Object 26
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Suite, op. 29
Object 27
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Suite, op. 29
Object 28
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Inversions and (superfluous) devices, Twelve tone dice
Object 29
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
String Quartet No. 3, op. 30
Object 30
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Letter to Rudolf Kolisch
Object 31
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Accompaniment to a Cinematographic Scene, op. 34
Object 32
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
From Today till Tomorrow, op. 32
Object 33
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Analysis of Variations for Orchestra, op. 31
Object 34
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Piano Piece, op. 33a
Object 35
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Moses and Aron
Object 36
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Enigma of Modern Music
Object 37
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Lecture in Princeton
Object 38
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
String Quartet No. 4, op. 37
Object 39
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Variations on a Recitative for Organ, op. 40
Object 40
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, op. 42
Object 41
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, op. 41
Object 42
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Prelude for Genesis op. 44
Object 43
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
A Survivor from Warsaw op. 46
Object 44
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Doktor Faustus
Object 45
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
String Trio, op. 45
Object 46
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Phantasy for Violin with Piano Accompaniment, op. 47
Object 47
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Thrice A Thousand Years, op. 50A
Object 48
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Modern Psalm, op. 50C
Object 49
![](http://mailin.schoenberg.at/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Fragment for Voice, Cello, and Piano
Object 50