Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire - An Analysis

Vince Sheehan walks through each song of this groundbreaking song cycle composed in 1912. Musical examples are provided by recordings and illustrations played on the piano and violin. Numbers below refer to bars:
Pierrot Lunaire op. 21
Part 1
1. Mondestrunken (Theme: the intoxicating influence of the moon) - A (i), A (ii - 15), A (iii - 29)
2. Colombine (Theme: obsessive unfulfilled desire) - A, B (13), C (33)
3. Der Dandy (Theme: The moon illuminates Pierrot's make up ritual) - A (I), A (ii - 11), B (21)
4. Eine blasse Wäscherin (Theme: ghostly washer girl) - A, B (9), A1 (12)
5. Valse de Chopin (Theme: the Poet's inspiration being haunted by music) - A, B (30)
6. Madonna (Theme: a Pieta) - A, B (15)
7. Der kranke Mond (Theme: the lovesick moon sinking) - A (i), A (ii - 12), A (iii - 22)
Part 2
8. Nacht (Theme: depression) - A (i), A (ii - 11), A (iii - 17)
9. Gebet an Pierrot (Theme: depression/inability to laugh) - A (i), A (ii - 6), A (iii - 13)
10. Raub (Theme: grave robbery) - A, B (14)
11.Rote Messe (Theme: Pierrot poses as a sacrilegious priest) - A, B (10), C (18)
12. Galgenlied (Theme: Death/sexual desire) - A (i), A (ii - 5)
13. Enthauptung (Theme: The moon as a terrible instrument of death) - A, B (11), A1 (17), C (22 - reprise of Der kranke Mond)
14. Die Kreuze (Theme: Poets as Christ figures) - A, B (10), A1 (17)
Part 3
15. Heimweh (Theme: Homesickness) - A, B (12), C (20), D (25), Transition (28)...
16. Gemeinheit (Theme: Pierrot inflicting pain) - A, B (9), A1 (16)
17. Parodie (Theme: Unrequited love) - A (i), A (ii - 11), A (iii - 22), Transition (31)...
18. Der Mondfleck (Theme: A speck of moonlight drives Pierrot mad) - A (i), A (ii - 7), A (iii - 12)
19. Serenade (Theme: Pierrot plays his viola) - A, B (26), C (38)
20. Heimfahrt (Theme: Pierrot travels home) - A (i), A (ii - 13), A (iii - 18)
21. O alter Duft (Theme: Nostalgic memories of days gone by) - A (i), A (ii - 10), A (iii - 19)

[@apbthoreau]

Thank you; very interesting. I just started reading “The Enjoyment of Music” Shorter Version, 8th Edition (Machlis & Forney. This piece is one of the suggested, listening examples at the end of chapter 1. The book mentions that this is an example of disjunct movement, with a wide range. These are new terms for me.

[@JamesSLiauw]

Hey vince, could you analyze the Chopin concertos 1 and 2? Thx

[@vincentsheehan3193]

I’ll add them to the list - cheers James!

[@SuonoReale]

Can you add Yoshimatsu’s “Threnody to Toki op 12” to that list? Specifically how he generates the lines and rhythms.