Reading Assignments for Kater’s Composers of the Nazi Era

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1. Today, there are many divergent interpretations of Arnold Schoenberg’s life, both over his nationality and music. While he wrote music as a German-Austrian, he was actually born to a Jewish father from Hungaria and a Jewish mother from Prague. Due to his parents immigrating from Slovakia, which was under the Hungarian crown until WWI, he initially held Hungarian citizenship. Because of the war, he was given Czech citizenship. Schoenberg failed to obtain Austrian or German citizenship during his years in Vienna and Berlin, and thus was “stateless” after the CSR ceased to exist until he became a US citizen in April 1941. His complicated nationality leaves people today defining him in different ways, and it also makes it blatantly obvious why he chose to leave for the US due to how Hitler and the Nazi Party would view him.
   Yet despite this, Schoenberg made German-Austrian music in the modernist style during the Weimar Republic. As we have learned previously, this music was not appreciated by many, especially as the Nazi Party began to grow. This ended in his dismissal from the academy, as the president, Schillings, stated “Jewish influence…must be eliminated.” With all of his issues in Germany, one might think he would have a much better life in the US. This was not the case, as his teaching jobs were largely underpaid and his music not appreciated.
   Schoenberg certainly was aware of his struggles, and maintained high self-esteem in his composing, to the point where it can be interpreted conceited and arrogant. With this attitude, Schoenberg created many conflicts with friends and enemies alike. If he was not adored for his music by a specific person, that seemed to mean they were suppressing his work.

   Questions:
   Why did Schoenberg’s music not succeed in the US, despite his achievement of creating the 12-tone system? Is it simply due to differences in style?
   Is Schoenberg’s bitterness deserved/understandable due to what he faced both in Europe and the US?
   How can we explain Schoenberg’s lack of success during his life in the US but his great reputation as a teacher?

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