Society for Private Musical Performances

The Society for Private Musical Performances, founded in November 1918 in Vienna and 1921 in Mödling redissolved went back to an initiative of the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg.

The aim of the association was " artists and art lovers to provide a genuine and accurate knowledge of modern music." This should be in the context of non-public concerts just before paying club members take place. Schoenberg himself took over the Presidency and program selection, supported by a 19 - member board from the circle of his friends and students. An important intention of soon known as " Schoenberg Club " company, it was unpopular press representatives of performances keep (concerts and premieres of the previous years ended several times as scandals with appropriate newspaper reviews, particularly famous was the led by Schoenberg scandal or slaps concert on 31 March. , 1913 ). So were regulated in extensive statutes, not only applause and disapproval, but also press meetings prohibited. To ensure a smooth visit programs have not been previously disclosed. The programs have been extensively rehearsed and often repeated several times for didactic reasons.

In the 3 years of the existence of 117 concerts took place in which 154 contemporary compositions have been performed. Rehearsals and concerts were made, inter alia, at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Musikverein or the banquet hall of the Mercantile Association. Among the listed composers included, for example Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Ferruccio Busoni, Max Reger, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Igor Stravinsky, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and Anton Webern. Until 1920, also own factory Schoenberg was added to the program. The performers were mostly pupil of Schoenberg. Since no orchestra was available, were partially specially created arrangements for chamber music ensemble, for example, of Schoenberg's 5 Pieces for Orchestra, Op 16, Bruckner's 7th Symphony, Mahler's 4th Symphony and Debussy's Prélude à l' après -midi d'un faune.

Before the club had to be terminated in December 1921 due to lack of money due to inflation in Austria, Schoenberg nor tried by an Extraordinary Evening raise money: On May 27, 1921 concert took place with four waltzes by Johann Strauss son instead of that of Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg and Anton von Webern were arranged for string quartet, piano and harmonium, the autographs were auctioned off afterwards.