Vol. 18 (2021): Journal of the Arnold Schönberg Center 18/2021

Schönberg's library is one of the most comprehensive records of a composer's reception in the 20th century. While early prints can still be traced back to the family's possession, Schönberg's collection continued to develop through acquisitions and donations until the last years of his life. The collection not only gives an idea of the interests of the creator of the collection, but also sheds light on his environment and networks. Arnold Schönberg's involvement with books is reflected in underlining and annotations, as well as in the meticulous cataloging of the holdings. The library becomes a historical, aesthetic and ideological panorama of its time.
At the core of the publication is an annotated catalog of the books and periodicals in Schönberg's estate library. In addition to an introductory article on Arnold Schönberg's library and its origins, as well as on the composer's reading habits, there is a transcription of Schönberg's own handwritten library index, which represents an authentic record of the holdings, including printed music, between 1913 and 1918. The present catalog is limited to books and periodicals; the extensive holdings of musical materials from the composer's estate can be accessed via schoenberg.at.