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Schonberg - Josef Hauer


In your blog post on "the shadow lurking behind every genius," I delved into the influences behind great composers' output, but you might have omitted a few noteworthy figures. While Arnold Schoenberg is widely recognized as the inventor of the series system in the early 1920s, it's essential to question whether he was truly the only one to devise chromatic methodology. Have you ever heard of Josef Hauer?

Interestingly, Josef Hauer was a composer who also explored the concept of twelve-tone composition around the same time as Schoenberg. In fact, the last movement of Arnold Schönberg's Fünf Klavierstücke, Opus 23 (1923) marked the first instance of his 'Method of Composing with Twelve Tones which are related only with one another.' This method, known as serialism or dodecaphonic music, is significantly different from previous compositions because it exclusively employs a set of twelve different tones, avoiding repetition within the series and encompassing all twelve tones of the chromatic scale.

It's intriguing to consider the parallel developments and contributions of both Schoenberg and Hauer to the evolution of musical composition during this period. As we continue to unravel the influences behind these great composers' works, let's embrace the richness of musical history and acknowledge the diverse paths that have shaped the art of composition.

 

Josef Hauer's contribution to dodecaphonic music is noteworthy, and his piano piece 'Nomos', Op. 19, which dates back to 1909, is a testament to his exploration of dodecaphonic pitch-series paired with different length durational-series. The first 15 measures of the right hand in 'Nomos' exemplify his early foray into this innovative technique (with the left hand following the right in octaves in the score). It's fascinating to see how Hauer's work predates Arnold Schoenberg's developments by over a decade and highlights the diverse avenues composers were exploring in the realm of serialism. As we delve into the shadows behind the genius of composers, it is essential to celebrate the groundbreaking contributions of figures like Josef Hauer, whose work has significantly influenced the course of musical history.


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