Ron Chaplin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Recently, I've been listening to a collection on Musical Heritage Society
>(534926M) of works by Schoenberg, Berg and Webern performed by Karajan and
>the Berlin.

Is this the same 3CD set like the one published in the DG 20th century
classics series?

>Having, in the past, had a difficult time "getting into" 20th century
>music, I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy two of the Schoenberg works:
>Pelleas un Melisande and Verklarte Nacht.

These two Schoenberg pieces are very early works and more related to
Mahler, Zemlinsky and Schrecker and the late/post romantic fashion of the
turn of the century.  No dodecaphony, but nevertheless they are very nice!
Try the Verklaerte Nacht in the original version for string sextet, for me
that version is even better!

>Here's the reason for this post.  I remember reading somewhere that only a
>expert can identify a particular Baroque composer without knowing the music
>being played.  Can the same be said about the composers of the New Vienna
>School? Their music seems so much alike to me.

Well I listen mostly exclusively to 20th century music and for me there is
a great difference between e.g.  Schoenberg, Berg and Webern.  Each of them
*has* his own kind of style - though I would have problems to describe it
here - although they use the same kind of system.  On the other hand you
are sort of right.  Of course you can immediately say that its dodecaphonic
music which has a very typical *sound* and in that respect they sound
similar!  But if you listen to more of their music, you will discover
diferences sooner or later!

>BTW, are there other composers in the School?

This term is usually used for pupils of Schoenberg and Webern.  Some other
names that come to my mind are Egon Wellesz, Stefan Wolpe and Friedrich
Cerha.  Also Humphrey Searle could be mentioned as he studied with Webern
some month...

Achim Breiling