Schoenberg's Method of Composing with Twelve Tones

Schoenberg's Method of Composing with Twelve Tones is a musical technique where all twelve notes of the chromatic scale are treated equally, avoiding traditional tonal centers. Composers create a "tone row," an ordered sequence of all twelve notes, and then use this sequence to develop melodies and harmonies. Variations like inversion and retrograde keep the twelve-tone structure fresh while preventing any note from dominating. This method promotes originality and avoids traditional key-based music, resulting in a complex, organized, yet innovative sound landscape that emphasizes balance and equality among all pitches.