Society for Private Musical Performances
Encyclopedia
The Society for Private Musical Performances (in German, the Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen) was an organization founded in Vienna
in the Autumn of 1918 by Arnold Schoenberg
with the intention of making carefully rehearsed and comprehensible performances of available to genuinely interested members of the musical public. In the three years between February 1919 and 5 December 1921 (when the Verein had to cease its activities due to Austrian hyperinflation
), the organisation gave 353 performances of 154 works in a total of 117 concerts.
Circumstances permitting, concerts were given at the rate of one per week, with each programme consisting entirely of modern works. The range of music included was very wide, the 'allowable' composers not being confined to the 'Schoenberg circle' but drawn from all those who had (as he himself put it) a real face or name. During the Society's first two years, in fact, Schoenberg did not allow any of his own music to be performed; instead, the programmes included works by Stravinsky
, Bartók
, Debussy
, Ravel
, Webern
, Berg
, and many others.
The players at these events were chosen from among the most gifted young musicians available, and each work was rehearsed intensively, either under Schoenberg himself or by a Vortragsmeister ('Performance Director') specifically appointed by him. Clarity and comprehensibility of the musical presentation was the over-riding aim, with audiences sometimes being permitted to hear 'open rehearsals', and complex works sometimes being played more than once in the same concert.
Only those who had joined the organisation were admitted to the events: the intention was to exclude 'sensation-seeking' members of the Viennese public (who would often attend concerts with the express intention of whistling derisively at 'modern' works by blowing across their house-keys) as well as keep out hostile critics who would attack such music in their publications: a sign displayed on the door – in the manner of a police notice – would state that Kritikern ist der Eintritt verboten ('Critics are forbidden entry'). Applause was not permitted after the performance of any work on the program.
A successor Society under the aegis of Alexander von Zemlinsky
, with Schoenberg as Honorary President and Heinrich Jalowetz
and Viktor Ullmann
among the 'Performance Directors', operated in Prague
from April 1922 to May 1924. At its peak its membership was over 400, substantially larger than the Vienna Society - and, also unlike the Vienna society, whose membership was largely made up of professional musicians, the membership of the Prague society was chiefly amateurs: a study published in 1974 instances 'civil servants, writers, doctors, lawyers, university and school teachers, businessmen, actors and painters' as well as 'students and musicians of all kinds'.
Bibliography:
Walter Szmolyan, 'Schönbergs Wiener Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen'; Ivan Vojtech, 'Der Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen in Prag' - both in Ernst Hilmar, ed. Arnold Schönberg Gedenkausstellung (Vienna, 1974)
Schönbergs Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen. Musik-Konzepte 36 (Munich 1984)
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in the Autumn of 1918 by Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
with the intention of making carefully rehearsed and comprehensible performances of available to genuinely interested members of the musical public. In the three years between February 1919 and 5 December 1921 (when the Verein had to cease its activities due to Austrian hyperinflation
Hyperinflation
In economics, hyperinflation is inflation that is very high or out of control. While the real values of the specific economic items generally stay the same in terms of relatively stable foreign currencies, in hyperinflationary conditions the general price level within a specific economy increases...
), the organisation gave 353 performances of 154 works in a total of 117 concerts.
Circumstances permitting, concerts were given at the rate of one per week, with each programme consisting entirely of modern works. The range of music included was very wide, the 'allowable' composers not being confined to the 'Schoenberg circle' but drawn from all those who had (as he himself put it) a real face or name. During the Society's first two years, in fact, Schoenberg did not allow any of his own music to be performed; instead, the programmes included works by Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
, Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
, Berg
Alban Berg
Alban Maria Johannes Berg was an Austrian composer. He was a member of the Second Viennese School with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern, and produced compositions that combined Mahlerian Romanticism with a personal adaptation of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique.-Early life:Berg was born in...
, and many others.
The players at these events were chosen from among the most gifted young musicians available, and each work was rehearsed intensively, either under Schoenberg himself or by a Vortragsmeister ('Performance Director') specifically appointed by him. Clarity and comprehensibility of the musical presentation was the over-riding aim, with audiences sometimes being permitted to hear 'open rehearsals', and complex works sometimes being played more than once in the same concert.
Only those who had joined the organisation were admitted to the events: the intention was to exclude 'sensation-seeking' members of the Viennese public (who would often attend concerts with the express intention of whistling derisively at 'modern' works by blowing across their house-keys) as well as keep out hostile critics who would attack such music in their publications: a sign displayed on the door – in the manner of a police notice – would state that Kritikern ist der Eintritt verboten ('Critics are forbidden entry'). Applause was not permitted after the performance of any work on the program.
A successor Society under the aegis of Alexander von Zemlinsky
Alexander von Zemlinsky
Alexander Zemlinsky or Alexander von Zemlinsky was an Austrian composer, conductor, and teacher.-Early life:...
, with Schoenberg as Honorary President and Heinrich Jalowetz
Heinrich Jalowetz
Heinrich Jalowetz was an Austrian musicologist and conductor who settled in the USA. He was one of the core members of what became known as the Second Viennese School in the orbit of Arnold Schoenberg.A musicology pupil of Guido Adler, Jalowetz was among Schoenberg's first students in Vienna,...
and Viktor Ullmann
Viktor Ullmann
Viktor Ullmann was a Silesia-born Austrian, later Czech composer, conductor and pianist of Jewish origin.- Biography :...
among the 'Performance Directors', operated in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
from April 1922 to May 1924. At its peak its membership was over 400, substantially larger than the Vienna Society - and, also unlike the Vienna society, whose membership was largely made up of professional musicians, the membership of the Prague society was chiefly amateurs: a study published in 1974 instances 'civil servants, writers, doctors, lawyers, university and school teachers, businessmen, actors and painters' as well as 'students and musicians of all kinds'.
Bibliography:
Walter Szmolyan, 'Schönbergs Wiener Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen'; Ivan Vojtech, 'Der Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen in Prag' - both in Ernst Hilmar, ed. Arnold Schönberg Gedenkausstellung (Vienna, 1974)
Schönbergs Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen. Musik-Konzepte 36 (Munich 1984)