Some Thoughts on the Teacher-Student Relationship between Arnold Schoenberg and Alban

Berg
Author(s): Donald Harris
Source: Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Spring - Summer, 1977), pp. 133-144
Published by: Perspectives of New Music
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/832816
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 SOME THOUGHTS ON THE

TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG AND ALBAN BERG

DONALD HARRIS

Teacher-student relationships' which become those of

disciple were frequent in central European academic lif
total commitment of Berg to Schoenberg's ideas, as well as
servile relationship which existed in non-musical matters, ou
be considered as anything extraordinary. What Schoenberg
Berg or any other student, as will be shown in the followin
was indeed far beyond what we today would expect of our
What he was able to give to Berg was perhaps equally beyon
today can give to our disciples, if indeed such a relationsh
be said to exist in the non-traditional fabric of twentie
American student life, in which respect or admiration for
hardly extends beyond the classroom, if at all, and almost
matters unrelated to the subject being taught. Consequently
subservient tone of Berg's letters to Schoenberg and many
tions described therein, reveal more of a traditional Europe

1 The present essay is a slightly abridged version of a lecture given

12, 1974, at the University of Southern California on the occasion of
Schoenberg Centennial Celebration and the opening of the Arnold Sc
stitute. Preliminary remarks of a non-substantive nature have been e
Nothing of direct bearing to the principal subject matter has, however,
2 The author wishes to thank Mr. Laurence Lyon, who was responsi
editing and English translation of Berg's letters used in this essay
assistance, as well as his understanding of this particular period in A
tory, have been invaluable. All letters, but the last, a Christmas greeti
taken from one three-month period (August, September, October 191
larly active moment in Berg's relationship to Schoenberg.

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134 PERSPECTIVES OF NEW MUSIC

student relationship than any particular weakness

It is not the tone of the letters that is of importan
fact reveal the depth of Berg's appreciation of Scho
tensity of his devotion to Schoenberg's ideals as w
To Schoenberg (Thursday, 1911)3
I have now received the conclusion of the Harmo
its beginning-the divine forward-and the dedica
book has now received its final sanctification. B
sanctuary one kneels reverentially and crosses onese
mility. The proper expression of composure, a heart
believer's breast before the beginning of the divine
And it becomes ever more clear to me that this work has been written
in service of the divinity the more often I read it, the more deeply I
penetrate into it. That we poor mortals may partake of it is our su-
preme good fortune. For this we thank you, beloved Herr Schoenberg.

Berg had been asked by Schoenberg to prepare the index of the

Harmonielehre prior to its publication by Universal Edition the follow-
ing year. Here he was reading the preface for the first time. During
these three months, however, there is a good deal of correspondence
concerning the Harmonielehre, since Berg was also responsible for
proofreading the galleys:

I have been overwhelmed by reading the Harmonielehre, so totally

engrossed in it, that I would like to discuss each and every topic, but
I think it is more important to save my time so that I can get on with
the index. (These last two days things went comparatively slowly be-
cause the many-[wonderful!] examples and the insane heat wouldn't
allow me to read attentively for more than 5-6 hours per day. But
now things will, I hope, go more quickly.) I'll keep on up to the non-
harmonic tones.

It was a task that required great patience, and Berg had as well the
assignment of deciding just exactly what should figure in the index.
There were ups and downs in Berg's efforts to please Schoenberg.
Schoenberg was as harsh a critic as he was a master teacher. Compli-
ments must have been rare. Even with so stellar a student as Berg, they

3 Precise dating is often problematical in Berg's letters since he sometimes leaves

out the month and the day, as this letter suggests. The context of each letter in
relation to preceding and subsequent letters has led the author and translator to
make their decision in each case.

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 SCHOENBERG AND BERG 135

rarely appear. Berg was quick to apologize for w

make; however, and when pardon came, it was l
lowing letter dates from August 21, a few week

To Schoenberg, Berghof [printed stationery],

I have just returned from bringing Webern to

will have gathered from the postcard we wro
past few days have been very fine. They stood u
when your wonderful letter to me arrived, I
abundance of joy. Those were the first kind w
Herr Schoenberg, for more than two months
after your pardon, purified; and today, two day
letter, your anger seems far, far away to me. Y
never really experienced it myself, but only dre
the only thing about the matter which remains
is the inability of the human brain to interpret
fessor Freud has not succeeded in this, he is stil
it is particularly characteristic of man to see un
sorrow as if through a veil, so that what is p
gentler light and the eye just gazes steadily on i
extent, everything I have endured in these las
preparation and a necessary preliminary stage
mutable favor which still awaits me; and the fac
Herr Schoenberg, believe that you will never aga
to deprive me of that favor is the high point of

Because of all this, and since you know of my

imagine how joyously and hopefully we spen
enrapt for hours every day in playing from Ma
phonies, your Orchesterlieder and piano pieces
Webern's departure we were still sitting at th
hands) your last piano piece; my wife sang songs
Yet, hovering above all these days with their mo
on the lake and these nights in the moonlight
with its horrible suffering and the relentless
human misery, terrifyingly exalted, painfully a
fire which has been raging for three days on th

4 Berg refers here to the Six Orchestral Songs, opus 8

than likely, refer to the Three Piano Pieces, opus 11, co
performed and published in 1910. It seems doubtful
copies of the Six Little Piano Pieces, opus 19, even tho
according to Rufer, early in 1911, for the most part. (
Arnold Schoenberg. London, Faber and Faber, 1962.)

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136 PERSPECTIVES OF NEW MUSIC

lake. And the fact that we love and esteem you-

an overestimation-and direct all our attention o
estimating you as little as is possible for our natur
ordinate to yours (as if glass could overestimate
then, that we are not empowered to assist you as r
[would indicate], to remove all these obstacles fr
is the saddest thing about this matter and only str
and desire that great aid will sometime come-I d
from outside or above, let us say from God, like the
that just now is descending to extinguish the fores

But these are only glimpses into the future, whi

forget the present! How is the Harmonielehre comi
my calculations the final book form should alre
proof and nothing would stand in the way of com
I would have plenty of time for it in the next t
(i.e., I would only need one or two days!), while
difficult during my first few days in Vienna (arou
because I will be moving in and getting the new
am only asking when I will be receiving a copy of t
so that I may arrange my time-and either wait her
so I can finish the index in peace or go back to Vien
as to be done with the apartment when I can
hope I have expressed myself clearly, and a card no
your Harmonielehre will be available to me would a
plans for the next two weeks. May I ask you, dear
for such notification?

Webern had been a house guest at Berg's sum

Ossiachersee. A charming postcard, to which Berg
ning of the above letter, states in Webern's hand:

A fine stay with Berg is over. We made music

Mahler's. I'll write to you as soon as I get home.

In Berg's hand was appended:

These were the most beautiful days of the summ

entirely in thinking of you, beloved Herr Schoenbe

About this very time Schoenberg decided that he

lin. A teaching opportunity presented itself, and h
Besides work on the Harmonielehre, Berg was aske
move Schoenberg's belongings. The following three
letters dated September 22, October 1, and October

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 SCHOENBERG AND BERG 137

It goes without saying that I will take over t

time. It will be a sad task... (September 22)

If you should decide for this company (Blum

Rotensterngasse, movers), I would have a man
to decide whether an 8m truck would suffice. I think it would. The
little bit of excess wouldn't cost very much and certainly wouldn't
require a second truck. (October 1)

Once again only a card, dear Herr Schoenberg. I've just now come-
Monday afternoon-from packing with Webern. The books are al-
most done, and the desk too; we were able to leave most things in it.
The packer has finally gotten on the job. We were forced to send you
a telegram about your address registration form. (Webern's doing that
right now.) We need it for the certificate. But the Inspector said it
will be released immediately, as soon as you have paid the rent. Thus
the telegram! In the desk I found the gas bill and the bill for the
three gas meters (there is a charge for them too) and I'll have the
gas shut off and collect the money (42K) as soon as the apartment
is empty ... I am still hoping that everything will fit into an 8m truck.
The man who gave us the cheap prices (from Blum and Popper) is
no one else but the salesman from Rosen and Krauss [?]. Isn't that
funny? He's the one who wanted 880 marks and now he's going to do
it (if it fits into an 8m truck) for 400-500 marks. That's Vienna for
you! Nevertheless, I do hope that the Fund will be successful here
also. I am still hoping and will be proved right. I can't pack this
afternoon since rent-days are here, but I will be there tomorrow (and
today Webern will spend the afternoon packing the rest of the books).
Anyway, there's not much for us to do anymore with respect to pack-
ing. Tomorrow morning we will finally send 8 pictures to Kandinsky;
he already has the calendar.5 Should I send a song?

Your cards now seem so happy, that my sad mood is somewhat im-
proved. At least I can be glad that you are going to have things so

5 Berg brings to mind the publication of the volume, Der Blaue Reiter (ed.
Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc. Munich, Piper, 1912), in which some of
Schoenberg's paintings were included as well as his essay, The Relationship to the
Text (reprinted in English in Style and Idea, New York, Philosophical Library,
1950). Kandinsky replied in a letter to Schoenberg on November 16, 1911 that the
paintings had been received (Rufer, op. cit.). Many were also exposed in the Blaue
Reiter exhibition that same year.

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138 PERSPECTIVES OF NEW MUSIC

nice now, especially the apartment. As for me...

dial regards from your very, very devoted Berg. (O

During this same period, Berg was one of the spon

Schoenberg Fund. The following appeal, which has
by Schoenberg biographers, dates from the month

Arnold Schoenberg's friends and pupils consider it t

his extremity to the notice of the public. Shame pr
doing so himself; that is why we take the initiative
over his head. Our mouths are opened by the tho
coming to grief for lack of the common necessities
has overtaken him with unexpected speed, and h
source would be too late. For at the time of wr
Schoenberg is living, deprived of any means wh
near Munich. (The above call will be sent to patrons
a view to a monetary collection. You are reques
planned action by appending your signature. We
early reply to: Alban Berg, Vienna XIII, Trauttmann

The fund-raising was not too successful, since

moved to Berlin. Presumably his material situation
to the teaching position he had accepted, thus nullif
the necessity. Nonetheless, Berg and the other col
and on October 14 Berg was able to write:

I will once again take steps concerning the Fund

write to Bahr7 asking when I can speak with h
business is now getting very lax, as Webern may
till now the results are:

In the bank 1860 K

Immediately available from Redlich 500
2360
At my place (approximately) 200
1912, Mautner & Redlich 1300
3860
(plus already paid to you 760)
(Total result of the Fund project 4620)

6 Translation by Cornelius Cardew as published in Willi Reich, Alb

don, Thames and Hudson, 1963.
7 Hermann Bahr (1863-1934), Austrian novelist, dramatist an
friend of Schoenberg and Berg.

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 SCHOENBERG AND BERG 139

That's much less than I had imagined. I had e

as much. But something more must be achieve

Added to proofreading, apartment-moving, a

suddenly a fourth task. Also in September, Ber
not he would teach some of the students Schoe
For it is so glorious to be the educator, the ve
batant for your ideas, your works, your art
though it be only in this Godforsaken city. Let
office (as I'd almost like to call it) be your g
administer it with all the power that's in me. W
scribed sphere of influence I shall perhaps succe
for the great holy cause which you are advoc
world, surrounded by an ever-growing multitud
giving you permanent assurance that there is ev
whose actions are just as they would be if he sto
your very presence.

All these thoughts give me the strength, ability, and almost the plea-
surable duty of taking the advantage which befalls me from some-
thing as sad as your moving away and of really accepting your un-
speakable kind invitation to take over your students-i.e., if they (the
students) want me!

No matter how lofty these words may sound, there were still practical
considerations which preoccupied Berg. He was not about to make
decisions concerning Schoenberg's students without the master's per-
mission.

You also wrote to me once that there were other potential paying
students, a Frl. Rethi and a certain Winkler, neither of whom I know.
Don't know addresses either. Should they get a separate lesson, and
in what? Not harmony, I guess. It goes without saying that I'll teach
K6niger, Linke, and Polnauer for free, if they want (but K6niger is
leaving). Should I put Polnauer together with Frl. Steiner? She re-
cently wrote me of her own accord that she wanted to take composi-
tion from me. What can I ask? Polnauer thinks that Dr. Blau will
also take part... ? Should I write to Dr. Ernst-Kraus? 8

8 Paul K6niger (brother-in-law of Webern), Dr. Josef Polnauer, and Karl Linke
were all students of Schoenberg and Berg who went on to play important roles in
the activities of the Schoenberg circle. They are well known to students, colleagues,
and historians of Schoenberg. The other students mentioned seem to have been for-
gotten, and the present writer has no information on them.

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140 PERSPECTIVES OF NEW MUSIC

Please don't hold it against me, dear Herr Schoenber

all this right now while you yourself are not yet se
can't let the thing slide, otherwise the few students
be scattered and I surely would be very glad if I
bit-since, N.B., there seems to be nothing doing
tions. So please, Herr Schoenberg, don't consider m
as immodest or an imposition. If I possessed the
Webern, to be able to speak with you, this would be
or three sentences. But the way it is I have to write
questions and annoyances. Please pardon me for i

I am so alone now... You can't believe how I felt

yesterday when I watched that gigantic moving van
the Hietzinger Platz ...

Many, many cordial regards, dear good Herr Sc

yours, Berg.

Please pardon, dear Herr Schoenberg, the sloppy form, but I still have
other letters to write and the Harmonielehre to p. 240 also came
today.

As if these four activities were not enough, there came a fifth, during
this same three-month period. In early August, Schoenberg was at-
tacked by a supposedly deranged person.

Yesterday evening I received the terrible news. But is it news? You

must have sensed something for months and feared it? Isn't this in
fact just the fulfillment of the lot of genius? No matter whether it is
expressed negatively, in the incomprehension of thousands of know-it-
alls or positively, in the hatred of a madman. I only know that this
hatred, this hellish insanity, which is otherwise concealed, has this
time materialized as a crime against your sacred person-for the exact
details are still unknown to me-but I also know (with the higher
knowledge of hope and expectation which cannot be deceived) that
the world which now passes by your deeds with a 'shrug of the
shoulders' will stop short at the crime of a devil, even though it be
only to stop and think. And this rethinking, which intervenes to aid
the lives of all great men, has now probably occurred in the case of
the affliction which crashes down upon you now from all sides-or it
will not be long in coming, for it is high time...

Nevertheless!! What do time and anything temporal mean for you,

beloved Herr Schoenberg-yes, even the high time of suffering-
since you are endowed with the deep, deep eternity of all pleasure?!

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 SCHOENBERG AND BERG 141

We mortals can only bow before your fate

weight on even our most fervent hopes; there
decision from on high, some supreme will.
order-even if it appears unfathomable to u

And now I conclude this letter, or rather I int

(via Webern, who plans to visit soon), I lear
or deepen the riddle. Until then, my most p
tion, gratitude and awe.

Schoenberg wanted to bring suit. Berg was in

gathering testimony and investigating the fa
messy affair, and innumerable hours were spe
clusion. Finally, on September 22, Berg tried-
cess-to dissuade Schoenberg from going thro
Given my present understanding of the mat
cept the position, which is extremely distressi
should not be pressed. Because-to say it in a
possible to find justice here in Austria. Th
knows how to twist things so, and how to app
loving person; the witnesses at the first hearin
enough to characterize your demeanor-whic
been as deliberate as possible (since I would
down the stairs), as unconditional self-defense
'threat'-so that the judge and, it seems to m
have the impression that you reacted to W'
him upstairs, and threatened him with the rev
have read your clear and overwhelming de
exactly the opposite.

I can visualize the incident so clearly to myself

just agitation and the impulse to achieve satisf
and thus I am extremely distressed by the
cannot be found in this case. I think it would n
if you had thrown the guy downstairs, because
on your side, and your anger would have be
gentlemen forget that even He upon whose cro
swung his scourge over the money-change
drove them from the temple. But they, Messrs.
look like the mob that once screamed: 'Let him be crucified! Give
us Barabas!'

And all this it is my responsibility to tell you, though your justice is

justice-I who have read your deposition, which seems to me inc

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142 PERSPECTIVES OF NEW MUSIC

trovertible. But even Webern and K6niger (b

Rosenfeldt's) 9 debated whether the suit shoul
mainly because of the 'situation with the child
confirmed in this same preconceived opinion, i
impossibility of obtaining any justice in Vienn
best, inasmuch as you're leaving Vienna anywa
simply write it off and save yourself lots of unpl
time.

These are, of course, only my ideas, which I i

asked. But I know that you won't hold them again
contradict your own. I am just writing this to yo
ing before you and telling you my opinion, bu
defer to your always better judgment. And I
ever you do now will be the only right, the only

To this varied list of activities must be added two which do not

appear in the letters which have been cited thus far. Berg was com-
posing, and was completing the fifth of the Altenberglieder, the Pass
caglia; he was also beginning the piano reduction of the Gurrelieder
although this task was not really begun in earnest until January of
1912. He had been in consultation with Universal Edition, however,
in preparation for the premiere performance of the Gurrelieder, whi
would take place in February 1913.
In all of these occupations, whether they be as lofty as teaching o
as mundane as moving furniture from an apartment, Berg approache
each task with reverence, with the same desire to please. They all cam
from Schoenberg, which was reason enough for their importance. Surely
there can be few other cases in the history of Western music where
teacher has commanded more respect and devotion from a student,
where a "life-style" has so permeated so many aspects of another
being. At Christmas of 1911 Berg summed up in two poetic and pensiv
paragraphs what must have been intense feelings kindled in part by t

9 The Dr. Rosenfeldt mentioned is evidently a lawyer engaged by Schoenberg

plead his case. The true reason for the entire incident seems to be unknown. It could
have been the result of a hostile reaction to Schoenberg's music, or perhaps due t
an anti-Semitic altercation, or even to something entirely banal and undramatic
Whatever the reason, future historians may be able to shed more light on an inc
dent which is an obvious case of petite histoire in the life of Schoenberg where the
has been little documentation heretofore. In any case, the present writer knows
no other reference in detail to this incident outside of the Berg-Schoenberg cor
respondence, and even the mysterious Mr. W seems to lack a properly identifiab
name.

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 SCHOENBERG AND BERG 143

hectic activity of the preceding fall. These words

could have provided comfort to Berg at any ti
well to conclude these thoughts on his relation
early years, and set the tone for its continuati
better known as a composer and musical perso
he continued to look to Schoenberg for guidan

To Schoenberg (Christmas, 1911)

Two things became apparent to me from re

fort, and inspiration. Comfort, because I h
that it is part of the essence of the great to s
no true artist without suffering. Inspiration,
able, unfathomable quality of the great ma
evident, because the phenomena censured b
dictions' in every artist's soul are resolved by
they, as Karl Kraus puts it so well, 'must meet
higher plane, though it be where God dwells.'

We who have the good fortune to partake o

comfort and this inspiration. For you, how
inner significance can be nothing new. May
with a few happy hours!

Very, very merry Christmas and happy h

Schoenberg, and the same to your dear wife an
greatest respect and gratitude.

Yours, Alban and Helene Berg

Many other letters to Schoenberg were writt

life, almost always as touching and sentimen
the height of Berg's success, during those fe
Anschluss, when primarily due to the continu
enjoyed some real material security, their ton
miration, even adulation. In spite of the mas
and even with the passing of the years, can
attitude persisted? Alban Berg may well be on
tieth-century music in his own right, yet this
had not Arnold Schoenberg provided not on
raison d'etre. This was not a lesson that Berg

10 Both Berg and Schoenberg knew well the eminent

pher Karl Kraus (1874-1936). They were frequently
and were of course avid readers of his publication, Die

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144 PERSPECTIVES OF NEW MUSIC

can it be one that history can ignore. Schoenber

Schoenberg the composer seem therefore to have eq
Berg was but one consequence of their interaction,
most important. There can scarcely exist other exa
documentation between teacher and student, both signif
whose interrelationships were so intricate. In this in
mnore remarkable since it is well illustrated by a co
ning a quarter-century which is only now becomin
general scholarly public. Its value as a scholarly documen
it is even more precious as a human document chro
tions and concerns of two men grappling as much
problems of everyday life as with those lofty artis
about which so much has already been written. The
reconcilable, however, which makes seeing them sid
more instructive.

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