Continuing the Past to Future - SCHOENBERG AT 150: ECHOES AND EVOLUTIONSLength:&nbsp;55 minutes without intermission&nbsp;The final concert of PGMF2024 program celebrates the 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg&#39;s birth by exploring the concept of &quot;continuing the past to future&quot; in music.The evening opens with a rarely performed chamber work by Gustav Mahler, a late-Romantic giant who &nbsp;recognized Schoenberg&#39;s talent and deeply influenced Schoenberg&#39;s early development. Mahler&#39;s influence becomes a bridge, connecting the established traditions of the past to the innovative sounds Schoenberg would later pioneer. composed at 16, the Piano Quartet in A minor showcases his early talent. &nbsp;Though unfinished, the piece reveals mastery in melody, harmony, and emotional expression. &nbsp;A minor tonality casts a dark, dramatic mood, a hallmark of Mahler&#39;s later symphonies. &nbsp;The piano plays a central role, establishing the melancholic tone and driving intensity &ndash; elements that would become characteristic of his mature work. &nbsp;While influenced by Brahms and Schumann, Mahler&#39;s individuality shines through. &nbsp;This daringly beautiful piece is particularly significant as his only surviving chamber work without vocals.Following Mahler&#39;s exploration of Romanticism&#39;s expressive potential, the program delves into the world of Anton Webern, a student of Schoenberg and a key figure in the Second Viennese School. Webern&#39;s three compositions &ndash; the Piano Quintet, Langsamer Satz, and Four Pieces for Violin and Piano &ndash; showcase his distinct approach, characterized by brevity, intricate textures, and a focus on individual notes. &nbsp;The Piano Quintet, composed in 1907, reflects Webern&#39;s early development with hints of Romanticism and Schoenberg&#39;s influence, while foreshadowing his later experiments with atonality. &nbsp;The Langsamer Satz, a standalone movement for string quartet, explores &quot;Klangfarbenmelodie&quot; (tone color melody), where instruments share the melodic line, creating a shimmering soundscape. &nbsp;Finally, the Four Pieces for Violin and Piano represent Webern&#39;s embrace of atonality, offering a glimpse into his aphoristic and highly concentrated musical statements. &nbsp;These three works by Webern demonstrate the evolution of musical language from Mahler&#39;s late Romanticism to the beginnings of atonality,&nbsp;The final two repertoires focus on Schoenberg himself. Composed in 1949, his &quot;Phantasy&quot; for violin and piano prioritizes the melody of the violin. Despite its atonal foundation, the piece retains glimpses of traditional major/minor tonality and a single-movement sonata structure. Influenced by classical and neo-classical styles, the work features virtuosic writing and a variety of techniques like double-stopping and tremolos. This shift towards a more expressive and lyrical style hints at yet another evolution of Schoenberg&#39;s musical language.The program concludes with a different kind of work from Schoenberg&#39;s earlier years. Though superficially resembling a standard march with its dotted rhythms and trills, &nbsp;Schoenberg&#39;s &quot;Die Eiserne Brigade,&quot; composed during his military service, holds a unique place in his compositional journey. This seemingly straightforward march is laced with humor and subversion. The inclusion of an &quot;animal concert&quot; with musicians mimicking animal sounds, and the fragmented melody that resists forming a cohesive whole, create a sense of playful mockery. Despite these comedic elements, the march retains a catchy trio section and hints of traditional harmony, suggesting a layer of respect for the genre it parodies. Scholars believe the melody fragments might even reference folk songs familiar to the soldiers, adding another layer of playful interaction with established musical forms. &quot;Die Eiserne Brigade&quot; thus becomes significant for showcasing Schoenberg&#39;s early experimentation with humor and unconventional elements in composition. It reflects his evolving relationship with traditional forms like the march, where parody coexists with a subtle nod to the genre&#39;s conventions. This playful work offers a window into Schoenberg&#39;s personality beyond the seriousness associated with his later atonal compositions. This playful work offers a window into Schoenberg&#39;s personality beyond the seriousness associated with his later atonal compositions.This program offers a unique opportunity to experience the lineage of atonal music, from its roots in the past to its lasting impact on the future.PROGRAMMEGustav Mahler: PIANO QUARTET IN A MINORAnton Webern: PIANO QUINTETAnton Webern: LANGSAMER SATZAnton Webern: 4 PIECES FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO, Op. 7Arnold Schoenberg: PHANTASY FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO, Op. 47Arnold Schoenberg: DIE EISERNE BRIGADE (THE IRON BRIGADE)ARTISTSChristos Marantos, PianoJohannes Fleischmann, ViolinRhys Watkins, ViolinAekkalak Kheiykhao, ViolaSmatya Wathawattana, CelloRESIDENCE ARTIST PERFORMANCES&ldquo;Having cultural stability and depth allows humans to live with dignity and not be easily shaken by changes, both good and bad.&rdquo;&nbsp;-&nbsp;Princess Galyani Vadhana (given on 8 November 1995.)This year&#39;s festival celebrates the remarkable talent and diversity within the world of classical music, featuring a captivating lineup of international artists over the course of three days.&nbsp;Dr. Alan Choo, concertmaster of Apollo&#39;s Fire, will join the Thailand Historical Informed Performance Society (THIPS) Ensemble for an enchanting Baroque Evening. Renowned hornist and composer Richard Bissill from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden will premiere a new work inspired by climate change. On the final night, Christos Marantos and Johannes Fleischmann from The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Arnold Schoenberg, celebrating his enduring legacy. Additionally, this year marks the 140th anniversary of Phra Chen Duriyang, a pivotal figure in the development of classical music in Thailand.&nbsp;The festival will also spotlight Thai musicians who are scholarship recipients from the Fund for Classical Music Promotion under the Royal Patronage of H.R.H Princess Galyani Vadhana and members of the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music showcasing their exceptional artistry throughout the event.