Description Drama mit Musik Written 1913 Language German | Translation The Hand of Fate First performance 14 October 1924 | |
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Premiere 24 October 1924 (1924-10-24)Vienna Similar Erwartung, Von heute auf morgen, Moses und Aron, Faust, Mörder - Hoffnung der Frauen | ||
Arnold sch nberg die gl ckliche hand op 18 excerpts
Die glückliche Hand (The Hand of Fate), Op. 18, is a Drama mit Musik ("drama with music") by Arnold Schoenberg in four scenes. It was composed between 1910 and 1913. Like Erwartung, composed a year earlier, it was heavily influenced by Otto Weininger's book Sex and Character. Unlike Erwartung, Schoenberg wrote the libretto for Die glückliche Hand himself. The first performance took place in Vienna on 24 October 1924. The underlying message of the piece is the idea that man continues to repeatedly make the same mistakes, and the plot is developed from events in Schoenberg’s personal life.
Contents
- Arnold sch nberg die gl ckliche hand op 18 excerpts
- Daniel k tter arbeit und freizeit 3 die gl ckliche hand
- Composition history
- Roles
- Synopsis
- Instrumentation
- References
Daniel k tter arbeit und freizeit 3 die gl ckliche hand
Composition history
The subject of the drama is influenced by personal circumstances in Schoenberg’s life. Schoenberg’s music was not as well received as it had been in previous years. Also, two years before the composition of the piece, Mathilde, Schoenberg’s wife, had an affair with the painter Richard Gerstl and although she returned to Schoenberg this had a lasting effect on their relationship.
Roles
Synopsis
The drama represents an inescapable cycle of man's plight as it starts and finishes with the male character struggling with the monster on his back. The male character sings about his love for a young woman (mime) but, despite this love, she leaves him for a well-dressed gentleman (mime). He senses that she has left him and eventually, when she returns, he forgives her and his happiness returns. Again the woman retreats. The woman is seen later with the gentleman, and the male soloist implores the women to stay with him but she escapes and kicks a rock at him. This rock turns into the monster that was originally seen on the man’s back. Thus, the drama ends where it began.
Instrumentation
The score calls for: piccolo, 3 flutes (3rd doubling on 2nd piccolo), 3 oboes, English horn, D clarinet, 3 clarinets (in B-flat and A), bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, bass tuba, timpani, cymbals, bass drum, snare drum, tamtam, high and low bells, triangle, xylophone, glockenspiel, metal tubes, tambourine, hammer, harp, celesta, and strings.