Arnold Schoenberg, a name once synonymous with the future of music, faced both reverence and rejection in his lifetime. Inventor of the twelve-tone system, he was a maverick, breaking from historical musical traditions and confronting the anti-Semitism and cultural criticism that plagued his era. 'Schoenberg: Why He Matters' by Harvey Sachs delves into Schoenberg's life, from his time as an icon in Austria and America to the neglect of his compositions by today's leading orchestras. Sachs passionately argues for Schoenberg's enduring significance, depicting his journey from Europe under Nazi threat to refuge in Los Angeles. Bridging the gap between Brahmsian precision and Wagnerian grandeur, Schoenberg generated a prism of controversy that refracts through the ages, his legacy questioning our understanding of Western music's trajectory.