Die Jacobsleiter
Die Jakobsleiter (Jacob's Ladder) is an oratorio by Arnold Schoenberg that marks his transition from a contextual or free atonality toward the twelve-tone technique anticipated in the oratorio's use of hexachords. Though unfinished by Schoenberg, the piece was ultimately completed and prepared for performance by Schoenberg student Winfried Zillig at the request of Gertrude Schoenberg.
Schoenberg began the libretto in 1914–15, which he published as a stand-alone text in 1917. He began the music in 1915, finishing most of his work on it in 1926, and finished a small amount of orchestration in 1944, leaving 700 measures at his death.
The piece is also notable for its use of developing variation.
Movements
- "Ob rechts, ob links" (Gabriel)
- "Gleichviel! Weiter!" (Gabriel)
- "Ich suchte die Schönheit" (Ein Berufener)
- "Du bist immerhin zufrieden" (Gabriel)
- "Geboten, gehorchen" (Ein Aufrührerischer)
- "Dies Entweder und dies Oder" (Gabriel)
- "Alter Weisheit" (Ein Ringender)
- "Gegen seinen und euren Willen" (Gabriel)
- "Ich sollte nicht näher" (Der Auserwählte)
- "Hier hast du Auge und Ohr" (Gabriel)
- "Herr, verzeih meine Überhebung!" (Der Mönch)
- "Wie, du doch schwankst" (Gabriel)
- "Herr, mein ganzes Leben" (Der Sterbende)
- "Nahst du wieder dem Licht?" (Die Seele - Gabriel)
- Hohe Frauenstimmen und die Seele (Singen vorgeschriebene Laute)