Arnold Schoenberg, String Quartet No. 1 in d minor, op. 7 (Kohon St. Qt.)

...I abandoned program music and turned in the direction that was much more my own than all the preceding. It was the First String Quartet, Opus 7, in which I combined all the achievements of my time (including my own) such as: the construction of extremely large forms; greatly emancipated melodies based on a richly moving harmony and new chord progressions; and a contrapuntal technique that solved problems offered by superimposed, individual parts which moved freely in more remote regions of tonality and met frequently in vagrant harmonies.
In accommodation to the faith of the time, this large form was to include all the four characters of the sonata type in one single, uninterrupted movement. Durchführungen (development) should not be missing and there should be a certain degree of thematic unity within the contrasting sections.
The great expansion of this work required careful organization. It might perhaps interest an analyst to learn that I received and took advantage of the tremendous amount of advice suggested to me by a model I had chosen for this task: the first movement of the Eroica Symphony. Alexander von Zemlinsky told me that Brahms had said that every time he faced difficult problems he would consult a significant work of Bach and one of Beethoven, both of which he always used to keep near his standing-desk (Stehpult]. How did they handle a similar problem? Of course the model was not copied mechanically, but its mental essence was applied accordingly. In the same manner I learned, from the Eroica, solutions to my problems: how to avoid monotony and emptiness; how to create variety out of unity; how to create new forms out of basic material; how much can be achieved by slight modifications if not by developing variation out of often rather insignificant little formulations. From this masterpiece I learned also much of the creation of harmonic contrasts and their application.
Brahms' advice was excellent and I wish this story would persuade young composers that they must not forget what our musical forefathers have done for us.
Arnold Schoenberg

[@vaderetro264]

Only six months ago this kind of music would irritate me and literally give me a headache. Now I find it beautifully complex and enjoyble, by no means complicated -let alone 'crazy'.

[@tango_doggy]

same

[@georgeholloway3981]

Congratulations!

[@1MRBASSMAN]

1st mvt. 00:13 2nd mvt. 12:03 Silence turning over the lp 16:57 Music resumes 17:13 3rd mvt. 22:41 4th mvt. 34:48

[@intervalkid]

This is one of the great all time quartets.

[@TheKarivann]

Thank you so much for posting such interesting program notes by Schoenberg himself! I wouldn't have known about it if you hadn't!

[@amapolabilis4663]

The best entrance to Schoenberg's chamber music. Bravo!

[@Examantel]

This is Schoenberg's second masterpiece.

[@TheJamesalden]

I like the video; that it compliments the work...THANK YOU!!...

[@LendallPitts]

Thank you.

[@helioshiperion3661]

Hermosa música, me llegan demasiados símbolos a mi mente cuando divago con ella

[@accountrubbish2997]

Definitely a challenging repertoire for both performers and listeners. I have listened to a number of other recordings, but this is undoubtedly the finest one. I find LaSalle quartet's interpretation slow and indecisive, yet the Kohon's quartet is able to bring out the melody clearly. What a pity that this piece is not available in the itunes store.

[@TheJamesalden]

Oh those last six, seven minutes or so...is as sublime as it can get...THANK YOU!!!

[@lopesesilva4744]

... Obra Magistral ... ! Do "Meu" Grande Mestre ... ! E Genial Compositor ...! Do Séc. XX ... ! Arnold Schoenberg ... ! ... Obrigado ...

[@wandersong]

I find this string quartet extremely moving emotionally as well as intellectually stimulating. Despite Schoenberg's later claims, I don't think it can be understood without the program. It's a late Romantic work as much as a modernist one. Schoenberg wrote a program, probably as a preliminary sketch for the music, and hid it later. It has since been uncovered from his notes by musicologists. The music does not follow the program exactly but the program is nonetheless very suggestive and helps in understanding the music. The story is a very common one, the Prodigal Son... a rebellious young man seethes against the restraints of home. (1st section) He finally breaks free and leads a rich and colorful life "out there", finds love (2nd section) but after many adventures becomes disillusioned and begins to miss his family (3rd section). He returns and is graciously welcomed back. Emotions run high as the family is reunited. At last he finds contentment. (4th section) Schoenberg's music is about modern people's sense of rootlessness... atonality is really a metaphor for the feeling that "there is no home to go back to." The 1st and 2nd String Quartets, which hover on the brink of atonality, are both concerned with the idea of home - the 1st quartet ends in a more traditional way, returning to D major (family, familiarity, peace). The second quartet takes a more radical approach. After the "Litany" ("I enter again, Lord, in Thy house), the singer takes leave of earth altogether ("I feel the air of another planet") - a decision to suspend the idea of home, to be at home in homelessness - I think this wrestling in both quartets with the idea of home also has to do with Jewish spirituality - the idea that as a human being, our home is not a physical place but our humanity itself.

[@allanclark3283]

Mike Zhai. Very fascinating I wrote and recorded a guitar piece and I named it ' Homelessness.' 'C' major is the tonal 'home' note in what I contrived. I don't feel very original right now.

[@marcrodriguez7177]

merci beaucoup pour ces précisions vraiment importantes pour comprendre l'œuvre et la ressentir d'ailleurs avec plus de force encore. l'émotion est intense.

[@klop4228]

@@allanclark3283 Originality is overrated. There's no new ideas under the sun, just new arrangements. Keep doing these clever and emotional things; if no one else has felt what you have, then nobody will understand it.

[@allanclark3283]

@@klop4228 . You are so right. It wasn't like the old Composers didn't "borrow" from one another. Hey, I'm, I believe, am your latest subscriber. We both need to upload more.

[@klop4228]

@@allanclark3283 Oh, well thanks. Yeah, I've had something in the works for months now but have been too lazy to upload it.

[@stueystuey1962]

Staggering genius.

[@marcusdolby1]

I usually say if you don't have anything good to say about something then........ Schoenberg is writing for himself, for the paper or both. I know some people like this and he is highly respected as a composer and a wonderful teacher. I feel he gave his students a great bit of advice when he said " do not start at where I am at now, keep your feet on tonal ground"

[@untoldtruth1295]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard...thank you so much for this upload.

[@MegaCirse]

D’un point de vue purement poétique, chant parfait pour lire les formes subjectives des nuages et suivre avec un œil dévoué les sillons des tiges des arbres pour apprécier l'écriture complexe des branches imbriquées, apprécier les couleurs de la décomposition de la lumière en gouttelettes d'eau dans un jardin, sentir fortement la terre humide d'une forêt ancestrale et percevoir les traces des animaux du passé profond ! Enfin, en tant que musicien, cette musique me touche profondément

[@lobsterbobable]

This certainly belongs here. Thank you.

[@Auriflamme]

Thankyou, I was inspired while listening to this and just had to write something.

[@earsense]

Superb recording and video. thank you!! Schoenberg always talked about a consistent evolutionary line through his oeuvre. This quartet follows so vividly after Verklärte Nacht. But, personally, I have yet to go much beyond this. Also, as Schoenberg said, you can hear Brahms, even Wagner in the music. Such relentless counterpoint to 2 chief motives throughout . . .

[@ThePhilosorpheus]

Very good choice of images and video description.

[@HonngoOree]

Such a wonderful synchronicity.

[@eleanorsopwith9806]

Music has it's own language that transcends all other languages across our troubled world. I'm listening to this during these frightening times and it helps to take my mind in a different direction. Thank you. 💛🎻🌠

[@michaelsheering4640]

Agree and disagree with many of the comments below. I would like to see a University graduate from the last 10 years put together a piece of music as dense, passionate and musically complex as this. Most people just havn't got the vision. He intertwines old ideas with new ideas very smoothly and this quartet plays very well. If you see merit in this piece you will surely enjoy Bartok's string quartet no 3. Very bold and intense work. Mozart would have rolled in his grave vis a vis the complexity.

[@PaulVinonaama]

michael sheering Mozart is very complex.

[@PaulVinonaama]

Seriously, do you think this is not structured?

[@PaulVinonaama]

But it has so many melodies. On the other hand, melodies are often superimposed; it is more polyphonic than Mozart on average.

[@LendallPitts]

+Claire Sage So do I. Classical music had started to bore me by the time I reached my mid-teens -- and I had spent a lot of time with music by then, playing in orchestras and ensembles several nights a week --, but then I discovered Schoenberg and the modernist composers who came after him. After that I have never lost interest in music, not for a moment. I even tried composing myself.

[@kenbusch2139]

michael sheering: There were complaints in Mozart's day about Mozart's music being too complex!

[@kylemoore4502]

I absolutely hated Schoernberg's music until I heard this now I love all of it

[@LendallPitts]

Good for you, Kyle. You have amazing worlds to explore now . . .

[@jbpops]

I don't believe you...

[@gastonmazzei8087]

One of Schomby's besties

[@jimihd1]

Now I think you should try Verklarte Nacht....

[@klop4228]

So are Ernest Bloch, Leonard Bernstein, and George Gershwin bad musicians as well? jimihd1 I much prefer this one to Verklaerte Nacht. No real reason, tbh. I just think I got to know this piece better.

[@minch333]

I really appreciated that, thank you!

[@tartanhandbag]

this is an incredible bit of writing that set modern classical music on its way, however i find the sustained length of it makes it quite a "difficult" piece to take in one sitting.

[@klop4228]

Takes some tries to get used to

[@Auriflamme]

Thank you, that's very kind of you :)

[@Varese13]

Many thanks for posting this performance, which was the very first recording of the work I ever heard and still has a special place in my heart.

[@OrlandoAponte]

In addition to this being a fantastic string quartet by Herr Schoenberg, the sound of the quartet playing it and the audio quality are phenomenal.

[@Auriflamme]

Don't thank me, thank Schoenberg and these musicians for the inspiration :)

[@123must]

Absolutely a masterpiece and this is one of the best rendition ! A lot of thanks

[@above-all-jsb4891]

unlike someone else here, I believe that, as regards Shoenberg, the King is fully dressed... and quite impressively, at that. Remarkable performance, besides: a similar performing experience at M. Di Gesu: VERDIGO - Quartetto d'archi della Scala

[@kaufmadeable]

This is really my first discovery of this wonderful work. Your stereo with beautiful positional sound does this piece great justice

[@TheTwilering]

Where is the controversy in the comments about the 15 second silence at 16:57? It is a long piece but it shows people don't listen to the whole thing. It is difficult to get into but once you "get it", it overwhelms you with the emotional highs and lows. The build up from 17:25 and the climax at 20:57 is the most powerful thing I've ever heard in music.

[@klop4228]

Honestly, despite listening to this the whole way through probably like 100 times by this point, I never noticed how long it was. There's supposed to be a gap there, isn't there? I think? In any case, it's not _that_ bad, as far as I'm concerned.

[@1MRBASSMAN]

@@klop4228 There is no gap in the score. What you hear is the lp being turned over.

[@klop4228]

@@1MRBASSMAN Yeah, I've since seen it with the score. No clue why that gap's there, cos Olla-Vogala has exactly the same recording and they just play through that bit.

[@raulillojuasasillo5383]

Impresionante, es la primera vez que escucho a Schönberg y estoy alucinando.

[@machida5114]

It's a good work.

[@MastanehNazarian]

7:17 just makes me feel mischievous, expressive and lustfully in a really grounded way all at the same time! I like this recording of this piece.

[@LendallPitts]

Beautifully stated. It makes me feel the same way!

[@CynthiaSaathoff]

amazing

[@leandroperie]

exacto lo que quería... gracias. la intro buenisima... al rato me aburre

[@seandurham2154]

This is an excellent quartet! Their togetherness is impeccable. Especially in the last movement. Wow.

[@BassLudeman]

not really sure what everyone is complaining about. This isn't THAT out, all in all the tonal centers are more or less there, its not too far removed from impressionism a la Debussy or Ravel. if you think this is noise wait till you hear his serialist stuff....

[@terminatormunky]

Why was Schoenberg such a genius?

[@rosshopkins2063]

Crippling depression

[@antontwee]

WOW! BIC Music great componist

[@tuxguys]

The Pre-Serialism Schoenberg... This is Impressionistic, almost Romantic... I had no idea! Everyone listening to this should read his extensive quote above (thanks, Poster): The only Iconclasts, in any artistic discipline, who ever did anything worthy of time and attention, were those who had a thorough grounding in the work that preceded their own.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

It is without doubt ground breaking music. But it is the music of a tortured mind.

[@mactire8557]

the ending is optimistic

[@LesterBrunt1983]

50 pages into Schoenberg's Theory of Harmony and you have a clearer and more detailed understanding of harmony than most conservatories will teach you. 1 reading of Schoenberg's Fundamentals of Musical Composition and you will have a better understanding of motives and form than most conservatories will teach you. In fact most won't even touch the subject, at least not from a composing viewpoint as to why and how.

[@riversandstones1644]

Maybe because the subject is not touched unless you are studying COMPOSITION. Duh?

[@phill-trans5315]

O

[@stueystuey1962]

Better yet listen to 30 seconds of this quartet; drop the mic. Most listeners will never be able to grow their consciousness to accept the "new" music. Now about 100+ years old with much that is even less accomodating of the old way of hearing and absorbing the musical experience. As radical and genius as are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartets this is definitely the one that blew the doors of the hinges.

[@tsukitsumetai2365]

if my mind were music, it would be just like this, beautiful and tragic

[@endnsr]

What a beautiful, elaborate interpretation - especially the fact, that this IS tonal music (of highest complexity) is audible through Kohon Quartet's outstanding intonation. Thank you. Did they also record no. 2 and no. 4 of Schoenberg's stringquartets?

[@LendallPitts]

+endnsr They recorded No. 4 but in the Vox LP box set the Ramor quartet did No. 2, in a very credible interpretation. They did a wonderful reading of No. 3, however, which is on my channelk.

[@leonbrichard]

Thank you for posting this

[@jobbz9107]

I found this really powerful. I don't think people always give strings there worth in terms of the beauty of the timbre, we just think "hey string quartet yeah classical consort that sounds about right". Compare this to Brahms String quartet Cminor [Opus 51. no 1]. Which is your favourite?

[@gordz2]

Ahhhhh love the bitonality. Its like music to my ears :P. Im one of the two people (I know more than 2 people) I know who likes dissonance. Me and my guitar teacher. What an amazing compositional technique. I think im going to use some bitonality in my composition for school.

[@adonisadmirer2752]

Have you entertained the thought that it sounds like music to your ears because it is music?

[@sean..L]

I love to draw while listening to Schoenberg's works.

[@MrPatitaz]

Exactly! It's an early piece, with lots of Wagnerian influence.

[@markmccarty9910]

This is the version I grew up with - I find it incredibly compelling. Why hasn't this wonderful recording been reissued on CD?

[@LendallPitts]

"Incredibly compelling..." PRECISELY.

[@khool63]

une musique prodigieuse , schoenberg maîtrise l'art du quatuor comme beethoven , mozart et haydn , l'ont fait avant lui , schoenberg mériterait une reconnaissance bien plus importante , merci

[@lkh0120]

string trio is the Best

[@dejanromih7913]

The beginning totally reflects the feeling of my current toothache (which is not an insult per se, but the resemblance in affectedness is uncanny haha)

[@stueystuey1962]

This quartet is as accessible as Hadyn. And easily as important. The line from Beethoven to Brahms to here is pretty straight.

[@0SierraMaestra0]

I agree.

[@nerozero3301]

Come diceva T.W.ADORNO la vera arte non può che essere antisistema e contro l'industria culturale.

[@cobaltjones]

I'd just like to say this at this time: we're still going to have a revolution in music that will make all former music seem tame by comparison. It will happen, even while academic prigs are smugly convinced it's all been done. it will never all be done.

[@rosshopkins2063]

Just imagine this but each not is digital and gets as much textural treatment as a pyschtrance sound.

[@vieuxnez]

I like this performance/recording, are the players listed, somewhere? (The version I am used to hearing seems more distant, possibly not mic'ed or mixed well [or too much reverb]) Just noticed at the beginning, "Kohon Quartet".

[@marcelo_0578]

brilhante

[@LendallPitts]

Beautiful, Auriflamme. Thank you.

[@phill-trans5315]

8

[@phill-trans5315]

Jestem Polakiem

[@Boldstrummer]

I can appreciate the monumental effort of such large forms. The intellectual mastery, but alas my body is not moved in an emotional pleasing way. Bach on the other hand, is sublime and I can listen to it over and over. But I doubt if I will listen to this again. I can tell he is not faking it. He really does know the craft and it is with respect that I will listened to this.

[@gastonmazzei8087]

Good for you m8... now get out of here and stop bragging about how u don't have an existential crisis as intense as the rest of us

[@klop4228]

It's been at least two years, but I'd give it another shot. It took me a listen to think "there's something here", then a few more and I was hooked. It's one of my favourite pieces of music now.

[@mactire8557]

really? i found this easier to get into than late Bach fugues

[@IwanOchs5]

Es stimmt. Die Musik zusammen mit dem Video, hinterläßt einen sehr intensiven Eindruck.

[@savannahsevier2233]

i really lick it and i'm glad that i listen'd to it and all my class loved it i did a expose on him that's why and he has really intresting thing's

[@LendallPitts]

I really lick it too.

[@Carmelious]

+lendallpitts Please, I'd be very glad to know the origin of this citation. When and where did Schoenberg said that? I'm writing an essay on his op. 09. Thanks!

[@ChanelSmithWakeupAndMakeup]

Good stuff.

[@LendallPitts]

@ABOCHITO: We aim to please. (And YOU in particular!)

[@charlieorttiz]

La grosa fuga de Beethoven lo inspiro seguramente!!!!!!

[@natewitham]

whats with all those pretty melodies man?

[@bmartia2]

Fabulosa esta pieza wagneriana. Schönberg dijo que esta musica es una descripción de las punzadas que había sentido durante un infarto

[@Paololosax]

BEL LAVORO

[@simonweber8126]

could you please tell where you did get this record with the kohon quartet: I didn't find at least no record by the kohons with this op 7 quartet of schönberg. May you give any info on the record? thanks! simon

[@charlesveigadealmeida]

Linda musica

[@pageljazz]

I like it! I've spent the last few days listening to his 4th quartet almost obsessively... it's remarkable the similarity in personality!

[@realself1]

what nice visual with the musical feast

[@minch333]

Unfortunately there are very few composers alive who know what they're doing or why. Classical music's like a fucking panda right now, we need to make sure that future generations are educated properly in order to bring truly interesting development and life to the art.

[@SMBreden]

Where did the quote in your 'About' section come from?

[@fragua74]

hombre este no es el serialista...despues es mucho mas duro de escuchar...

[@sewardrimbaud]

Could you tell me which quartet plays this?

[@nusinie1]

wich quartett is playing this ?

[@tappetovolanteviaggi8808]

If I dared a comparison to literature I'd say "Naked Lunch", W. Burroughs

[@pumas89]

Haven't you found the meaning of life? Go to your room lay down in your bed, no lights, no other sound than this peace. You are welcome

[@JorgeLSantos]

this quartet could be named "Despair"

[@searchandestroy69]

To those who like this piece of music, I highly recommend checking out some of John Adams' quartets.

[@1MRBASSMAN]

No comparison. Schoenberg is a genius in the same tradition as Brahms, Wagner and Mahler. Adams and the rest of the so-called "Minimalist School" do not belong on the concert stage along with the great geniuses of the past. This "school" is merely a result of showing rock musicians how to work a pencil.

[@searchandestroy69]

+1MRBASSMAN Well, I disagree entirely. I find Adams' music quite genius and do think he holds a respected position in music. I don't know if you're familiar with his string quartets, but I wouldn't consider them minimalism. Some of his other pieces, yes

[@Auriflamme]

I lost love in frantic seconds, that names mean nothing, you shook my words free I meant, mean, I love I am nothing when the truth spills I am time being, a further darkness, singing love away

[@rafaeljhoni7405]

No rest! Atonality

[@klop4228]

There's as much atonality in here as there are oboes and pianos.

[@petitequinte]

I'm trippin' balls.

[@RolandBouman]

Uhm...so why, if the first movement is labelled "Nicht zu Rasch" are they in fact playing it *WAY TOO RASCH*?

[@uranrising]

Where do Schoenberg's immensely enlightening notes, quoted above, come from.This is the next Schoenberg for people to listen to after Transfigured Night and the 1st Chamber Symphony.

[@rodrigonavarro3985]

Expresionismo o impresionismo?

[@blackswan8535]

Expresionismo

[@pumas89]

piece* my bad! :)

[@eljuanomayor]

3 minutes have been an eternity to me

[@pectenmaximus231]

Disable the comments on videos of Schoenberg's music, it would be a real act of mercy for the inane.

[@MegaCirse]

Perhaps, for "insane" ?! ..... :-)

[@ColonelBLRZ]

Sounds like Wagner's color and chord structures with the added madness that the 20th century brought along with it. Brilliant

[@0SierraMaestra0]

And he read Beethoven scores for about 120 hrs strait. After that, one goes a little bit insane. But that is where music comes from.

[@MarcusSchmalzlockus]

Is it a bad sign if I hate this?

[@bortkievitch]

No. That is the normal reaction. I agree with you.

[@Johannludwigamadeus]

Yes, you should definitely see a psychiatrist!

[@yuehchopin]

Zu Gott beten!