Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31 (1926–28) is an orchestral set of variations on a theme, composed by Arnold Schoenberg and is his first twelve-tone composition for a large ensemble. Premiered in December 1928 by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler, it was greeted by a tumultuous scandal.Frisch, Walter (1999). Schoenberg and His World, p. 270. .
Sections Introduction Theme Variation I: Moderato Variation II: Adagio Variation III: Mässig Variation IV: Walzer-tempo Variation V: Bewegt Variation VI: Andante Variation VII: Langsam Variation VIII: Sehr rasch Variation IX: L'istesso Tempo Finale
Music
The instrumentation of the works consists of 4 flutes (2nd and 3rd doubling piccolo), 4 oboes (4th doubling english horn), 4 clarinets (4th doubling bass clarinet), E-flat clarinet, 4 bassoons (4th doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbals, bass drum, snare drum, tam-tam, triangle, tambourine, glockenspiel, xylophone, flexatone), harp, celeste, mandolin, and strings
The theme of the piece is stated in measures 34–57.Ennulat, Egbert M. (ed.) (1991). Arnold Schönberg Correspondence, pp. 216, 231. . The orchestration includes a flexatone.Daniels, David (2005). Orchestral Music: A Handbook, p. 335. . The piece features the BACH motif (B–A–C–B).Hoffer, Charles (2010). Music Listening Today, p. 271. .Stein, Erwin (ed.). 1987. Arnold Schoenberg letters, p. 206. University of California Press. The tone row in its four permutations (labeled Prime, Retrograde, Inversion, and Retrograde Inversion) are shown below.
Schoenberg opened a lecture on the composition with the following tyranny of the majority defense of less common aesthetics: "Far be it from me to question the rights of the majority. But one thing is certain: somewhere there is a limit to the power of the majority; it occurs, in fact, wherever the essential step is one that cannot be taken by all and sundry."Schoenberg, Arnold (March 22, 1931). "Variations for Orchestra, Opus 31: Frankfurt Radio Talk", reprinted in Schoenberg, Nuria (ed) (1988). Arnold Schoenberg Self Portrait, p. 41. Cited in Frisch (1999), p. 99.
The piece has been arranged for two pianos by Charles Wuorinen and this arrangement was set to a ballet, Schoenberg Variations (1996), by Richard Tanner of the New York City Ballet.Feisst, Sabine (2011). Schoenberg's New World: The American Years, p. 240. .
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