Arnold Schoenberg: Complete Works for Piano Solo

Danaë Killian has studied Schoenberg’s music and thinking all her adult life, first performing his complete published solo piano works in recital in Basel in 2001.

Danaë Killian piano

Arnold Schoenberg composer

Danaë Killian has studied Schoenberg’s music and thinking all her adult life, first performing his complete published solo piano works in recital in Basel in 2001.

She writes: "Schoenberg’s philosophy of the relationship between musical ideas and their presentation ubiquitously informs my categorical thinking on the fundamental questions of being and of ways of knowing. It is my destiny, it seems, to need to think the structures of existence through Schoenberg. Consequently, this recording is accompanied by my extended essay, For Grasping Schoenberg: An Epistemology of Sense and Meaning in Word, Music, and the Moving of a Pianist’s Arms—which is not so much about Schoenberg as an outline of how one might think toward this notoriously difficult modernist composer."

Press quotes

“40 or 50 years ago the Schoenberg works for piano were considered by many to be esoteric and almost impenetrable to the general concertgoer but now, with that wonderful aid, hindsight, we can see them for what they truly are – a wonderful expression of musical thought from the late romantic period into the modernist era. And how additionally wonderful to have Danaë Killian bring this expressive and harmonically rich music to life. She clearly loves the piano works of Schoenberg and every nuance is ever so carefully expressed – dense here, ethereal there and then dancelike and a moment later joyously explosive. Fabulous playing from beginning to end.”

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— Peter McNamara, classikON

“Scheonberg the pianist? Not quite. In fact, he never actually played the piano. An stoning fact, considering that he wrote masterfully for the instrument. His oeuvre for the piano is presented here by Australian pianist Danae Killian. The track listing is in compositionally chronological order which allows the listener to track his development throughout the early experimentations with atonality in the Three Pieces, Op. 11, right through to the stunning Suite Op 25 which pays homage to the baroque suite and delivers some dynamic and witty writing that requires a high level of precision in all aspects of ones playing. Id is advisable to listen to these works whilst following the score. The pieces are easily downloadable from imslp.org. Only then can one appreciate the complexity of these miniature compositions. I found the brevity of the Six Little Piano Pieces, Op 19 from 1911 the most compelling works on this disc. His sparseness in texture combined with a mixture of bright and colourful harmonies make these light but carefully constructed movements a very attractive set to listen to. Killian has also included a link to an essay entitled "For Grasping Schoenberg: An Epistemology of Sense and Meaning in Word, Music, and the Moving of a pianists's arms', which looks at hear approach to her thinking of who she describes as a 'notoriously difficult modernist composer'. Pollini's reading has to this point been the benchmark for the recording of these works. Killian treats each work as a unique entity and entrusts a model of obliqueness and character to a collection of technically demanding and richly rewarding pieces. This is an excellent CD on all levels and from an intellectual standpoint, well worth purchasing.” ★★★★★

— Frank Shostakovich, 2MBS Fine Music Magazine

Artists

Arnold Schoenberg

Arnold Schoenberg (1874—1951) was an Austrian-American composer who created new methods of musical composition involving atonality, namely serialism and the 12-tone row. He was also one of the most-influential teachers of the 20th century; among his most-significant pupils were Alban Berg and Anton Webern.

Danaë Killian

Dr Danaë Killian is an Australian pianist whose poetry-infused performances are known for their intense originality and expressive interpretive power. Her repertoire stretches across the complete solo piano music of the Expressionist Second Viennese School, major polyphonic works by JS Bach, and a wealth of Australian compositions.

Track Listing

Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11 (1909) Arnold Schoenberg

I Mäßige Viertel
I Mäßige Achtel
III Bewegte Achtel

Sechs Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 19 (1911) Arnold Schoenberg

I Leicht, zart
II Langsam
III Sehr langsame Viertel
IV Rasch, aber leicht
V Etwas rasch
VI Sehr langsam

Fünf Klavierstücke, Op. 23 (1923) Arnold Schoenberg

I Sehr langsam
II Sehr rasch
III Langsam
IV Schwungvoll. Mäßige Viertel
V Walzer

Suite, Op. 25 (1923) Arnold Schoenberg

I Präludium
II Gavotte – Musette – Gavotte (da capo)
III Intermezzo
IV Menuett – Trio – Menuett (da capo)
V Gigue
Klavierstück, Op. 33a (1929) Mäßig Arnold Schoenberg
Klavierstück, Op. 33b (1931) Mäßig langsam Arnold Schoenberg

Performers

Danaë Killian

Where to listen

Arnold Schoenberg: Complete Works for Piano Solo is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Arnold Schoenberg: Complete Works for Piano Solo is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.