Fortschrittliche Technologie im Dienste eines Antimodernisten. Heinrich Schenker und der österreichische Rundfunk

The Viennese music theoretician Heinrich Schenker opposed modernity during his entire life. At first, this opposition applied to new technologies as well. Despite his skepticism, he purchased a radio shortly after the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (RAVAG) started broadcasting in October 1924 and soon became an avid radio listener. Schenker quickly grasped the advantages of this new transmission medium and used it to further his own interests, aided by personal contacts with the RAVAG. In 1928, his associate Otto Erich Deutsch delivered a radio lecture co-authored with Schenker about the goals of the “Archive for Photograms of Musical Master Manuscripts” which was founded at Schenker’s instigation. In 1934, the RAVAG sponsored a competition, awarding the best text to a song fragment by Franz Schubert which in turn was discovered by Deutsch. Since the textless fragment lacks the final measures, Schenker had previously composed an ending for the song which was also performed on the radio