Schönberg's first contact with Mödling dates back to 1896 when he, after leaving his position as a bank clerk for Werner & Co became conductor of the Mödling Workers' Choir "Freisinn". Schönberg always walked one part of the way Vienna - Mödling as his income was not enough to pay for both journeys. In this house he developed the method of composing with 12 notes only related to each other and the idea of a Society for Private Musical Performances.