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Famous Music of the Early 20th Century
Part 2 (c. 1900â1930)
Three Piano Pieces
by Arnold Schoenberg (1874â1951)
Drei KlavierstĂŒcke (âThree Piano Piecesâ), Op. 11 (1909), is a piano set by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg. The first two pieces mark his clear break from traditional tonality and his move toward atonality.
Although traces of tonality remain, the harmonic center is unstable. The three pieces are unified by recurring motivic cells, especially in the innovative third piece, whose fragmented textures and structural use of rhythm and register anticipate later serial techniques.
Serenade for Strings
by Edward Elgar (1857â1934)
Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 was composed in 1892 and is one of Elgarâs earliest orchestral works to gain lasting popularity. Written for string orchestra, the piece reveals the lyrical warmth and emotional depth that would later define his mature style. Although Elgar modestly regarded it as a small work, it became one of his most beloved compositions and helped establish his reputation as a significant English composer.
The serenade consists of three movements: a gentle Allegro piacevole, a deeply expressive Larghetto, and a lively Allegretto finale. The central movement, with its rich, singing lines and tender atmosphere, is especially admired for its quiet nobility and heartfelt lyricism. Elegant, intimate, and beautifully balanced, the work remains a cornerstone of the string orchestra repertoire.
Sarabande in D Minor
by G.F. Handel (1685â1759)
The Sarabande is the third movement of Suite in D minor, HWV 437 by George Frideric Handel. Composed in London, likely between 1717 and 1720, the suite was published in 1720 as part of Handelâs first collection of keyboard works, Suites de piĂšces pour le clavecin. Written for solo harpsichord, the Sarabande has become one of his most widely recognized and enduring keyboard movements.
Although rooted in the dignified courtly dance tradition, its expressive gravity and rich harmonic texture give it an almost aria-like intensity. Over time, it has been arranged for orchestra, guitar, and many other instruments, securing its lasting place in the repertoire and in popular culture.