Misconceptions about 20th Century Techniques

I must say, I've only been here for a short while but I think the curiosity and vigor shown by many of the younger members on here is definitely something which should be recognized and encouraged. However, I have to say, there seems to be some misinformation spreading around (with help from the YC Wiki) which is hindering the intellectual growth of those who want to learn, not helping. I can't exactly give lectures on the concept of atonality, and the 12-tone technique developed by Arnold Schoenberg (in addition to other variations of a dodecaphonic approach) but I can at least help in pointing people in the right direction.

Also, I realize that as a university student I can take my library resources for granted, obviously kids in high school don't have access to all of the things that university students do, so as a word of advice for the younger people here who's main source for info is pretty much the internet I pretty much have to say QUESTION YOUR SOURCES!!! If you're going on answers.com or something, chances are the info was put there by some schmuck. Wikipedia is a great starting point, but still some of the stuff there might not be the most correct, always check out the references (the Atonality and Serialism wikipedia pages have a wide array of scholarly references) and delve deeper! Also, check out the composers that are mentioned on the wikipedia pages, there are certainly plenty of clips of most of their pieces on YouTube. I guess I'm just saying, learn as much as you can.

Anyway, if you want to learn more about the development of 12-tone composition, there's no better starting place than Schoenberg's Style and Idea, a collection of his essays that he wrote both in Europe and after he moved to California. The classics from this are definitely "Gustav Mahler", "Brahms The Progressive", and "Composition with Twelve Tones".

http://books.google.com/books?id=K9lMP5oqKEgC&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245&dq=schoenberg+"composition+with+twelve+tones"&source=bl&ots=GznXYHNJuu&sig=5P7WY_QE1AsDha4jqmOonryXWlU&hl=en&ei=JzgTSsDHE5Cm8gS07eGPBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#PPA245,M1

Here you should be able to read a lot of the book.

But yeah seriously, take advantage of the internet, there's a lot of scholarly literature that you actually have access too for free without having to be a part of a university with a Naxos or JSTOR subscription or something. And if there is a problem, look up a reference and see if an older member on here can help you out. I say all this only to help. I searched tirelessly for answers when I was in high school while getting all the recordings I could and studying everything, so I'm guessing this can only help.

(with help from the YC Wiki)

Something that could be easily ammended by you... :whistling:

Well put.

The Wiki articles [[Atonality]] and [[Twelve-tone technique]] were pretty much written by a small handful of people that have hardly any idea what they are talking about. So why did they write it? To put something up. To get it started. So people like you can put all the right stuff in it. It's there. It's waiting. If something is potentially arguable, cite your source. The Wiki is only as good as its contributors. Be one.

This thread will eventually get buried with all the others. If you want to teach members of the forum about a subject, preach it on the Wiki, and preach it well. It can only be improved upon.

Thanks, E-Nig

Thanks, E-Nig

Haha. At first I was like....wtf? But I get it.

That's funny.

I think the bit about questioning your sources is a good one though. Often people (of all ages) forget to validate their information.

Well put.

The Wiki articles [[Atonality]] and [[Twelve-tone technique]] were pretty much written by a small handful of people that have hardly any idea what they are talking about. So why did they write it? To put something up. To get it started. So people like you can put all the right stuff in it. It's there. It's waiting. If something is potentially arguable, cite your source. The Wiki is only as good as its contributors. Be one.

This thread will eventually get buried with all the others. If you want to teach members of the forum about a subject, preach it on the Wiki, and preach it well. It can only be improved upon.

Oh, you son of a scallop. :angry:

In all fairness though, the article was better when I initially conceived it (if still not that great) than after the many subsequent edits.