Schoenberg: String Quartets Nos. 2 & 4

Dive into the profound and innovative world of Arnold Schoenberg with his "String Quartets Nos. 2 & 4," a captivating exploration of the composer's evolution over three decades. This album, released on the BIS label in 2017, features two of Schoenberg's most significant works, each composed during tumultuous periods in his life. The String Quartet No. 2, Op. 10, completed in 1908, marks a pivotal moment in Schoenberg's career, where he began to break away from traditional tonality, influenced by personal turmoil. The quartet is uniquely scored for string quartet and soprano, with Malin Hartelius delivering a haunting vocal performance. The String Quartet No. 4, Op. 37, composed in 1936, showcases Schoenberg's mastery of his revolutionary twelve-tone technique, offering a stark contrast to the earlier work.

Performed by the acclaimed Gringolts Quartet, this recording captures the essence of Schoenberg's genius, from the post-Wagnerian chromaticism of the Second Quartet to the complex, atonal structures of the Fourth. The album's cover art, featuring a work by Wassily Kandinsky, adds a visual dimension to the musical journey, reflecting the close friendship and artistic exchange between the two pioneers. Whether you are a seasoned classical enthusiast or new to Schoenberg's groundbreaking compositions, this album offers a rich and rewarding listening experience, spanning nearly an hour and four minutes of meticulously crafted music.

Arnold Schoenberg, born in Vienna in 1874, was a revolutionary figure in 20th-century classical music, renowned for his groundbreaking compositions and theoretical innovations. As a composer, Schoenberg was among the first to challenge traditional harmony, pioneering atonality and developing the twelve-tone technique, which uses a specific order of all twelve pitches in the chromatic scale. This method, also known as serialism, had a profound impact on the course of modern music.

Schoenberg's music is characterized by its use of motives to create coherence and his exploration of dissonance. He was also a prolific writer and teacher, influencing generations of composers, including Alban Berg and Anton Webern. Beyond music, Schoenberg was a multifaceted artist who also painted and invented. His legacy extends far beyond his compositions, encompassing his influential teachings and writings that continue to shape the way we understand and create music today. Schoenberg's journey from his early works to his atonal innovations and twelve-tone technique is a testament to his enduring influence on classical music.