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Arnold Schoenberg wishes you a very happy Christmas

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norman lebrecht

December 25, 2014

An arrangement of “Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen” for chamber ensemble, courtesy of Dr Stephen Roe, one of several new friends I made during the course of this lovely year.

Comments

John Borstlap says:

December 25, 2014 at 11:14 am

These are all the notes that Schoenberg avoided in his other works.

Hilary says:

December 25, 2014 at 11:42 am

Ingenious,the way Schoenberg assimilated so many Xmas carols into this single span. The kind of trick Gerald Barry or Michael Finnissy might do these days.

18mebrumaire says:

December 25, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Now, now, John, remember the spirit of goodwill to all men, and that includes AS!

Eric Koenig says:

December 25, 2014 at 5:33 pm

About half a century later Samuel Barber would do something quite similar for full orchestra with his Die Natali. Almost a who’s who of carols and also in a fairly short span of time and, like Schoenberg’s Weihnachtsmusik, unjustly overlooked.