The instrumentation of the works consists of 4 flutes (2nd and 3rd doubling piccolo), 4 oboes (4th doubling english horn), 4 clarinets (4th doubling bass clarinet), E-flat clarinet, 4 bassoons (4th doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbals, bass drum, snare drum, tam-tam, triangle, tambourine, glockenspiel, xylophone,
flexatone), harp, celeste, mandolin, and strings The theme of the piece is stated in measures 34–57. The
orchestration includes a
flexatone. The piece features the
BACH motif (B–A–C–B). The
tone row in its four
permutations (labeled
Prime,
Retrograde,
Inversion, and
Retrograde Inversion) are shown below. : { • (set-global-staff-size 17) \override Score.TimeSignature • 'stencil = ##f \override Score.SpacingSpanner.strict-note-spacing = ##t \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 3/1) \new StaffGroup > } Schoenberg opened a lecture on the composition with the following
tyranny of the majority defense of less common
aesthetics: "Far be it from me to question the rights of the majority. But one thing is certain: somewhere there is a limit to the
power of the majority; it occurs, in fact, wherever the essential step is one that cannot be taken by all and sundry." The piece has been
arranged for two pianos by
Charles Wuorinen and this arrangement was set to a
ballet,
Schoenberg Variations (1996), by
Richard Tanner of the
New York City Ballet. == Sources ==