Schönberg’s Fundamentals of Musical Composition

A Source Study

Abstract

This study traces the complex history of the creation of Arnold Schoenberg’s Fundamentals of Musical Composition (FMC) – from its conception in 1911 as part of a planned series of textbooks to its posthumous publication in 1967. Drawing on archival material, including drafts, correspondence and annotations, the article reconstructs the book’s development across six drafts. It examines Schönberg’s collaboration with Gerald Strang and Leonard Stein, as well as his methodological changes – such as the transition from German to English and the reorganisation of theoretical concepts. The analysis shows that FMC was initially conceived as a comprehensive treatise on composition integrating harmonic and thematic elements. Later, however, the work was split into separate texts (Models for Beginners in Composition, Structural Functions of Harmony). The article also examines editorial interventions and the challenges of translation, highlighting the tension between Schoenberg’s original vision and the published result. By situating FMC within Schoenberg’s broader pedagogical and theoretical context, the study highlights the continuity of his musical thought and the enduring significance of this seminal work.