Fin de Siècle#
Arnold Schoenberg: Die glueckliche Hand#
The storyline of the ultra-modern play with music, Die glueckliche Hand (1910-1913), sounds old-fashioned: the artist who is oppressed by life, represented visually by Arnold Schoenberg (1874 Vienna - 1951 Los Angeles) easily masters his goals with visionary atmosphere. Darkness is represented musically by atonality. Using many repetitions of short themes - patterns which move in the background - and the correlation of lighting and musical timbre, (Example: the beginning of the play). Schoenberg's stage directions are evidence that he was acquainted with the movies; his designs for the sets show his desire to expand his means of expression. The picture shows the set design for scene 1 of the Gluecklichen Hand with the glowing eyes of the men and women. Obviously Schoenberg was looking for alternatives - perhaps even better-paid career chances. (M. Saary)
Sound Clip#
