Honoring Arnold Schönberg: A Cultural Afternoon at Hamburg’s Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums

The Legacy of Arnold Schönberg Celebrated at Hamburg’s Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums

On 20 February, Hamburg’s Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums paid tribute to the influential musician Arnold Schönberg as part of the “Days of Exile”. Schönberg, known for his groundbreaking work in twelve-tone music, was much more than just a composer. Born in 1874 in Vienna, he became one of the most prominent figures in music theory and composition in the early 20th century.

Despite being self-taught in music, Schönberg’s talent was evident from a young age. He composed marches and polkas as a secondary school student and received support from conductor Alexander von Zemlinsky. Alongside his students Anton von Webern and Alban Berg, Schönberg formed the “Second Viennese School” and revolutionized the music scene with his expressive style.

The “Scandal Concert” of 1913, where the audience clashed with musicians over the avant-garde music, marked a turning point in Schönberg’s career. He went on to promote modern music through various societies and eventually fled to the United States after the rise of the Nazis in Germany.

In addition to his musical achievements, Schönberg was also a painter, inventor, and designer. One of his notable inventions was Coalition Chess, a four-player chess variant inspired by the First World War. Although the game fell into obscurity for many years, recent enthusiasts have revived interest in it.

At the event in Hamburg, attendees had the opportunity to witness a live demonstration of Coalition Chess, led by musician and chess player Volker Ahmels. The game was projected on a large screen, allowing spectators to follow the action closely. The event also featured lectures on the connections between music and chess, as well as musical performances in honor of Schönberg.

Overall, the afternoon dedicated to Arnold Schönberg at Hamburg’s Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums was a fitting tribute to the multifaceted artist and his enduring legacy in both music and chess.