Anton Webern

Definition

Anton Webern was an influential Austrian composer and a key figure in the Second Viennese School, known for his innovative approaches to atonality and twelve-tone technique. His music is characterized by its concise form, rich textures, and the exploration of new methods of musical expression, which reflect the broader movement towards the breakdown of traditional tonality during the early 20th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Webern's music is often brief and highly concentrated, using silence and space as key components alongside sound.
2. He was deeply influenced by Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone system but took a more extreme and radical approach to its application.
3. Webern's work includes a significant focus on instrumental color and texture, often utilizing chamber ensembles to achieve his sonic goals.
4. Despite his small output, Webern's works have had a profound impact on 20th-century music and continue to influence contemporary composers.
5. His music often embodies an aesthetic of precision and clarity, contrasting with the larger forms typical of Romantic composers.

Review Questions

• How did Anton Webern's approach to composition differ from traditional tonal music?
  • Anton Webern's approach to composition marked a significant departure from traditional tonal music through his use of atonality and the twelve-tone technique. Unlike tonal music, which relies on hierarchical structures and tonal centers, Webern's works prioritize sound texture and color over harmonic progression. This shift allowed him to create music that feels more fragmented and abstract, reflecting the changing artistic values of his time.
• Discuss the relationship between Anton Webern and Arnold Schoenberg within the context of the Second Viennese School.
  • Anton Webern was a prominent member of the Second Viennese School, which was founded by Arnold Schoenberg. Their relationship was one of mentor and protégé; Schoenberg developed the twelve-tone technique that influenced Webern's compositions significantly. While both composers sought to push the boundaries of music beyond traditional tonality, Webern took Schoenberg's ideas further by focusing on brevity and clarity in his works, contributing to a unique style that is distinctly his own.
• Evaluate the impact of Anton Webern's music on the evolution of 20th-century classical music and its significance in breaking down traditional tonality.
  • Anton Webern's music has had a profound impact on the evolution of 20th-century classical music by pushing forward ideas of atonality and twelve-tone technique. His concise compositions challenged existing norms, paving the way for later developments in modern music. The significance of his work lies not only in its technical innovations but also in how it reflects a broader cultural shift away from traditional tonal systems, influencing generations of composers who sought new modes of expression beyond the constraints of earlier musical practices.

Related terms

Twelve-tone technique: A method of musical composition devised by Arnold Schoenberg that uses all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in a specific order to create a basis for a piece, ensuring that no single note is emphasized.

Atonality: A musical style that rejects the traditional system of tonality, creating a sense of freedom from harmonic constraints and allowing for greater experimentation in musical expression.

Schoenberg: Arnold Schoenberg was a pivotal composer and theorist who founded the Second Viennese School, known for his development of atonality and the twelve-tone system, greatly influencing Webern and Berg.