Het Collectief, the chamber music group on this album, was founded in Brussels in 1998 and is known for its unique sound achieved through an unusual mix of strings, wind instruments, and piano.
Interpretation
Reinbert de Leeuw, the conductor on this album, made his own transcriptions for this recording, inspired by the spirit of the 'Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen' arrangements.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The music on this album, from around the turn of the 20th century, is characterized by a sense of 'loss' as composers pushed the boundaries of chromatic tonality towards atonality.
Composer Biography
Alexander von Zemlinsky, a composer whose music was unjustly overlooked for decades, was Arnold Schoenberg's brother-in-law and musical mentor.
Compositional Technique
The 'Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen' created downsized versions of orchestral works for single strings and woodwinds, characterized by the subtle addition of harmonium and piano.
Performer Biography
Reinbert de Leeuw, the conductor, is highly respected by many contemporary composers, including Messiaen, Ligeti, and Gubaidulina, as an ideal interpreter of their music.
Composition History
In 1918, Arnold Schoenberg, along with his pupils Alban Berg and Anton Webern, founded the 'Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen' (Society for Private Musical Performances) to distance themselves from conservative music life.
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