Webern, Anton von

Webern, Anton (von), b. Vienna, Dec. 3, 1883, d. Mittersill, province of Salzburg, Sept. 15, 1945 (shot accidentally by a US soldier). Composer. 1904-1908 pupil of A. Schönberg, who later became his friend. Studied musicology with G. Adler, from 1908 theatre kapellmeister (Bad Ischl, Prague and elsewhere). 1918-1922 he worked in Schönberg's "Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen". In 1921 his first works were published by Universal Edition; 1922-1934 manager and conductor of the Workers' Symphony Concerts and from 1923 of the Vienna Workers' Singing Society. W. is considered one of the most significant representatives of twelve-tone music, along with A. Schönberg and A. Berg.

W. had a decisive influence on the development of modern music, reducing and concentrating Schönberg's twelve tone music (dodecaphony) to produce brief atonal and dodecaphonic aphorisms and "stenographic records" which have been interpreted as symptoms of a reduction of expression to its shortest form. The abstract, constructive technique, together with a subtle application of tone colours, made the reception of his compositions by his contemporaries quite difficult.

Works: Orchestra works, chamber music, songs, chorals. - Writings: Wege zur neuen Musik, publ. by W. Reich, 1960.

Literature: W. Kolneder, A. W. Einführung in Werk und Stil, 1961; W. Reich, A. W., 1961; H. Moldenhauer, The Death of A. W., 1961; F. Wildgans, A. W., 1966; F. Döhl, W. Beitrag zur Stilwende der neuen Musik, 1976; H. Moldenhauer, A. W., 1979; M. Hayes, A. v. W., 1995.