Online Exhibition
December 1–24, 2022
Christmas Gifts
Online Exhibition
December 1–24, 2022
Our online exhibition is dedicated to Christmas gifts. We browse the bookshelves of Schönberg’s library, open Christmas cards, and flip through favorite reading material from his friends and pupils.
Our recent publication “Ex libris Arnold Schönberg”, with comments and illustrations, is a catalogue of the books and journals from the composer’s library stored at the Schönberg Center in Vienna. One varied section of the collection comprises books given as gifts and also dedications by authors, pupils and friends.
Many of these Christmas gifts accompanied Schönberg on his journey to the USA in exile. He kept them as precious memories from the old world and – in the case of books and sheet music – was also able to return to them for reading many years later. Even so, gifts were not welcome every year. But that is another story. More will be revealed...
Curator: Therese Muxeneder
Digital Realization: Christoph Edtmayr
Further reading
Julia Bungardt-Eckhart:
Bücher und Zeitschriften in der Nachlassbibliothek. Kommentierter Katalog
Eike Feß und Therese Muxeneder (Hg.)
Journal of the Arnold Schönberg Center 18/2021


Warmest wishes
Object #1

Mahler biography
Object #2

Quite magnificent
Object #3

With greatest admiration
Object #4

The splendid Christmas gift
Object #5

Learn to pray
Object #6

Beethoven letters
Object #7

The finest Viennese poet
Object #8

Immensely happy
Object #9

Yours, Webern
Object #10

Poems during the war
Object #11

In warmest devotion
Object #12

A very vivid historical picture
Object #13

Giving Schönberg the score
Object #14

Do not send any gifts here
Object #15

Magnificent words about Zemlinsky
Object #16

Esteemed Master
Object #17

Missing parcels
Object #18

Several hours of good entertainment
Object #19

Quite valuable
Object #20

Capacity for enthusiasm
Object #21

Solace and Enlightenment
Object #22

Most heartfelt wishes for Christmas
Object #23

A very pleasant Christmas
Object #24