Complete Piano Music

Arnold Schoenberg - Complete Piano Music

Performed by Edward Steuermann - piano

The piano music of Arnold Schoenberg holds an especially significant place in his oeuvre. Every important change in style announced itself in compositions for "piano solo," as if to test the complete autonomy and self-sufficiency of the new works by resorting to this genre of the most absolute music - the most absolute music, as there are no words to explain, no colors to enhance, no dialectics of a chamber music ensemble to differentiate the expression or the meaning.
...
The novelty and originality of Schoenberg's piano style is often overlooked. It seems that in the post-romantic period there is hardly a composer, with the possible exception of Debussy, whose writing for piano is so personal and so intimately connected with the idea it has to express. The pianist is confronted with new problems. It is mainly the extremely scarce use of pedal which often deprives the sound of the romantic vibration for which the piano is known, and the polyphony requires the most exact differentiation by the use of all kinds of touch.
Even a master like Busoni, who was one of the first great musicians (and at this time almost the only one) to understand the importance of these works (Op. 11), thought it necessary to adjust one of the pieces to the more accepted piano sonority. (He recognized this as a mistake later on.) The reception by audiences and press was for a long time frosty or outright negative. But, by the time Op. 23 appeared, Schoenberg's name was world famous after the great success of some of the earlier works; one has learned now to listen with more confidence, trust, and devotion. (Edward Steuermann)

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Drei Klavierstuke, Op. 11 {13:02}

2. Funf Klavierstuke, Op. 23 {9:51}

Side 2

1. Sechs kleine Klavierstuke, Op. 19 {4:35}

2. Suite fur Klavier, Op. 25 {14:00}

3. Zwei Klavierstuke, Op. 33a and b {5:27}

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