# 1 Reading Arnold Schoenberg

The letters that Schoenberg wrote in response to Busoni's opinion to his works were very focused with the singular idea that Schoenberg wrote his composition correctly and he didn't need to change it. He felt that if he were to change the way his song was arranged or constructed than means that he, "could have done it better" (14). While he didn't feel that his songs were perfect if he allowed for another composer to alter his works than he would have declared his own work imperfect; he couldn't allow this. That would ruin his reputation in the community. It was interesting that he gave such mathematical responses. He does mention in the first letter that he would like to do "away with pathos" (13). I liked his logical example of the a=b b=c a=c property. Throughout his entire response he was very direct and thoroughly rejected Busoni's ideas.