THE SCHOENBERG SOUNDWAYS PROJECT

Curated by David Schafer

The presence of Viennese composer Arnold Schoenberg makes a return to the USC Campus, in March 2015, featured as a Visions and Voices Arts Initiative six day public event. Seventeen years after the Schoenberg Archives were moved from USC to Vienna, Austria, the dissemination of his work will be presented through multiple formats and venues on the USC campus. The first component of "The Schoenberg Soundways" will embody intermittent audio emissions of five compositions that will be played Monday through Friday as the mobile exhibition. Each composition will be 'performed' by five USC Hospitality Vehicles, as they deliver services and goods throughout the campus. A bronze plaque, containing a personal Schoenberg quote represents a commemorative gesture that will be temporarily installed on the grounds of the Thornton Music School during the event. The third and final installment of "The Schoenberg Soundways" includes an evening of presentations and concerts at the Ramo Recital Hall. This event includes a lecture, and performances by faculty and students; including a Piano Opus, and a live performance of Schoenberg’s iconic piece, "Veklarte Nacht." The event will be concluded with a reception of Viennese pastries, coffee and conversation.

            "The Schoenberg Soundways" project intends to captivate the attention of students, faculty and staff, with a multi-faceted yet cohesive representation of experiencing Schoenberg’s compositions, while celebrating his formidable and significant history. It’s no question, that to this day, Schoenberg’s name still provokes debate. The core values of interconnectivity at the USC community, is to unveil collaborations between multiple departments; those of which will be excavating, nurturing, and utilizing the varying systems of education and musicology. The following individuals will reveal Schoenberg’s continuum of works. 

            Roski’s Critical Studies Faculty and Schoenberg Soundways Curator, David Schafer will be introducing the final evening of this six-day event and present a short video document. Following, Paul Chaikin, a Musicologist at Thornton, will present a short lecture on the “Emancipation of Dissonance”. Following, Aron Kallay, a nationally recognized Composer and Pianist, will be performing a Schoenberg piano Opus. Karen Dreyfus, a nationally recognized  Violist, will be leading the Thornton School of Music Ensemble for the performance of "Verklarte Nacht," which will be introduced by Paul Chaikin.

Evening Program March 7th 2015 7pm - 9pm
7:00-7:15 Introduction and Screening: A Documentary short to introduce the five-day mobile sound trucks
7:15-7:30 Lecture: Presentation by Paul Chaikin “Emancipation of Dissonance”
7:30-7:45 Piano Recital: Aron Kallay piano Opus 11
7:45-8:00 Reading: Introduction of "Verklarte Nacht"
8:00-8:30 Performance: the Thornton Student Music Ensemble performs "Verklarte Nacht" led by Karen Dreyfus
8:30-9:00 Reception: Viennese pastries and coffee

USC Roski School of Fine Art and Design 
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089 

For more information click here.