Editing Josef Matthias Hauer (section)

== Life ==
Hauer was born in [[Wiener Neustadt]] and died in Vienna. He had an early musical training in [[cello]], [[Choir|choral]] conducting, and [[organ (music)|organ]], and claimed to have been self-taught in theory and composition.<ref name="Lichtenfeld-3"/> In 1918, he published his first work on music theory (a tone-color theory based on Goethe's ''[[Theory of Colours]]''). In August 1919, he published his "law of the twelve tones", requiring that all twelve chromatic notes sound before any is repeated. This he developed and first articulated theoretically in ''Vom Wesen des Musikalischen'' (1920), before the Schoenberg circle’s earliest writings on [[twelve-tone technique]].<ref name=Lichtenfeld-3/>

Hauer wrote prolifically, both music and prose, until 1938, when his music was added to the touring [[Nazism|Nazi]] "[[degenerate art]]" (''Entartete Kunst'') exhibit.<ref name="Lichtenfeld-3"/> He stayed in Austria through the war, and, in fear, published nothing. Even after the war, however, he published little more, although it is thought that several hundred pieces remain in manuscript.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} Hauer continued to write twelve-tone pieces while also teaching several students his techniques and philosophy. At the time of his death, Hauer had reportedly given away most of his possessions, living simply while retaining a copy of the ''[[I Ching]]''.