Anton Webern (1883-1945) was an Austrian composer and a key figure in the Second Viennese School, which was pivotal in the evolution of twentieth-century classical music. His oeuvre, characterized by meticulous craftsmanship and intense expression, is marked by an economy of musical language and an extension of the principles of Arnold Schoenberg's serialism—a technique that treats all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale as equal. Influenced by his mentors Schoenberg and Alban Berg, Webern's music was avant-garde, exploring new structures, harmonies, and textures within a highly concentrated form.

Despite its initial critical resistance, Webern's work has since been acknowledged for its profound impact on contemporary music. Compositions such as "Passacaglia, Op. 1" reveal his early post-Romantic leanings, whereas later works, including the "Variations for Piano, Op. 27" and the "String Quartet, Op. 28," demonstrate his pioneering serialist approach. His output was relatively modest in quantity but immense in influential scope, impacting later serialists, electronic music, and the post-war avant-garde. The clarity and crystalline textures of Webern's compositions, as reflected in pieces like the "Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10," make his music not only historically significant but also a subject for ongoing study and re-interpretation, as confirmed by the continued remastering and performance of his works.

Genres

Austro-german Modernism

Avant-garde

Classical

Early Modern Classical

Serialism

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Latest Release

Abbado: Baroque & Beyond

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Ludwig van Beethoven•

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Anton Webern•

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Modest Mussorgsky

Album - 85 Tracks - Released October 21, 2024