This article describes the process of creating an exhibition and publication on Arnold Schönberg’s twelve-tone method and discusses the challenges of presenting Schönberg’s complex compositional techniques to a wide audience, balancing biographical information with musical analysis. The exhibition at the Arnold Schönberg Center featured a chronological narrative of the method’s development, showcasing manuscripts, tools like Schönberg’s twelve-tone discs, and multimedia content. The accompanying book aimed to be accessible to various readers, including a simplified introduction to the method, a historical overview, a glossary, Schönberg’s lecture on the method, and a catalogue of 50 related objects. The author reflects on the difficulties of explaining complex musical concepts to diverse audiences, acknowledging the ongoing challenge of accessible music education.
Eike FEß (Fri,) studied this question.