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.[1] Unlike Erwartung, Schoenberg wrote the libretto for Die glückliche Hand himself. The first performance took place at the Vienna Volksoper 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.[2]
The subject of the drama was 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.[2]
The drama takes place in one act in which there are four scenes. It lasts about twenty minutes.
The staging of Die glückliche Hand is complex, due to the range of scenic effects that must be combined with the use of coloured lighting.
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 woman 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.
^Schiff, David (8 August 1999). "Schoenberg's Cool Eye For the Erotic". The New York Times
^ abBiersdorfer, J. D. (22 May 2009). "Robert Edmond Jones's Staging for 'Die Glückliche Hand' on Display at the Morgan". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 April 2021. (subscription required)
glückliche, hand, hand, fate, drama, musik, drama, with, music, arnold, schoenberg, four, scenes, composed, between, 1910, 1913, like, erwartung, composed, year, earlier, heavily, influenced, otto, weininger, book, character, unlike, erwartung, schoenberg, wro. Die gluckliche 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 1 Unlike Erwartung Schoenberg wrote the libretto for Die gluckliche Hand himself The first performance took place at the Vienna Volksoper 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 2 Die gluckliche HandOpera by Arnold SchoenbergThe composer in 1927TranslationThe Hand of FateLanguageGermanPremiere24 October 1924 1924 10 24 Vienna Volksoper Vienna Contents 1 Composition history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Instrumentation 5 See also 6 ReferencesComposition history editThe subject of the drama was 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 2 Roles editA man baritone Two mimed characters one woman and one man Chorus six women and six men in SprechstimmeSynopsis editThe drama takes place in one act in which there are four scenes It lasts about twenty minutes The staging of Die gluckliche Hand is complex due to the range of scenic effects that must be combined with the use of coloured lighting 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 woman 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 editThe score calls for piccolo three flutes 3rd doubling on 2nd piccolo three oboes English horn D clarinet three clarinets in B flat and A bass clarinet three bassoons contrabassoon four horns three trumpets four 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 The piece also employs an offstage ensemble consisting of piccolo E flat clarinet horn trumpet 3 trombones triangle and cymbals 3 See also edit6 Z44 the Schoenberg hexachordReferences edit Schiff David 8 August 1999 Schoenberg s Cool Eye For the Erotic The New York Times a b Biersdorfer J D 22 May 2009 Robert Edmond Jones s Staging for Die Gluckliche Hand on Display at the Morgan The New York Times Retrieved 9 April 2021 subscription required Score with detailed stage directions UE 1917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Die gluckliche Hand amp oldid 1102617280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
