Born: 1883, Vienna, Austria
Died: 1945, Mittersill, Austria

"Music is natural law as related to the sense of hearing."

Webern was born in Vienna in 1883 as Anton Friedrich Wilhelm von Webern. His first musical instruction came from his mother who was an amateur pianist. Starting in 1904, Webern studied with composer Arnold Schoenberg, and after 1908 wrote freely atonal music until 1925, at which point he used Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique in every piece. The works of Webern's middle and later period are often scored for small groups of instruments, and contain very bare textures. Webern and his wife fled Vienna in 1945 for Mittersill (near Salzburg). They lived with their three daughters and grandchildren until Webern was accidentally shot and killed by a U.S. soldier.

Further listening:

Six Bagatelles for String Quartet, Op. 9 (1911-1913)
Kronos (Nonesuch)

Variations for Piano, Op. 27 (1935-1936)
Mitsuko Uchida (Philips)

12/06