Arnold Schönberg, ‘8. Nacht’ from Pierrot Lunaire

Arnold Schönberg, ‘8. Nacht’ from Pierrot Lunaire

It is an atonal piece from 1912. Schönberg called it a passacaglia, but is is definately not in the traditional form of a passacaglia. When we look at the form of the piece it is existing of three parts all in the form of a canon. The musical theme exists of big thirds and small thirds; e - g - es. Only in the first three measures the theme is found back 6 times; each time the theme starts at the end tone of the foregoing theme.

So why would he have choosen to use a canon form? Because it represents the intrigant; just like a canon adds voice over voice; the butterflies are becoming more and more just like the darkness. Also the movement of the theme represents the movement of the wings; going up and down. The night is represented in the use of atonality; while dissonant tones where in the darkness of musical material for a long time.

Yours Sincerely @inMusicalTerms