Numerological symbols in Schoenberg's creation

Abstract

Expressionism in music was the movement that brought the contrast to previous eras promoting tense music, exacerbation of means of expression, and destruction of tonal balance. The works that belong to this innovative artistic movement involve diverse interpretations, because they capture the general tense atmosphere, from an aesthetic philosophical perspective, highlighting some text-sonority correspondences and the expressiveness of the elements of musical language. Over time, various connections have been made between music and mathematics, proving that mathematics can give a solid, deep foundation to music, without having a major impact on the rendering of feelings. This research presents some aspects of how numerology influenced and marked the creation of the expressionist composer Arnold Schoenberg. By using the symbolism of numbers, we can better understand the way the composer thought and created his music, strongly marked by the dissolution of tonality, the twelve-tone technique, and the transition from bel canto to "Sprechgesang" and “Sprechmelodie”.