Composer

:

Anton Webern

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1938

Average_duration

:

8:03

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Anton Webern's String Quartet, Op. 28, was composed in 1938 and premiered on March 6, 1939, in Vienna. The quartet consists of four movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, marked "Sehr mäßig," is characterized by its sparse texture and use of silence. The quartet begins with a series of pizzicato notes, which are then followed by a series of sustained notes played with the bow. The movement is marked by a sense of tension and unease, with the music often pausing and then resuming with sudden bursts of energy. The second movement, marked "Sehr schnelle Viertel," is a fast and frenetic scherzo. The music is marked by its use of rapid, staccato notes and sudden changes in dynamics. The movement is highly rhythmic, with the quartet often playing in unison to create a sense of urgency and excitement. The third movement, marked "Langsam," is a slow and mournful adagio. The music is marked by its use of long, sustained notes and a sense of melancholy. The quartet often plays in a hushed, delicate manner, creating a sense of intimacy and introspection. The final movement, marked "Sehr lebhaft," is a lively and energetic finale. The music is marked by its use of rapid, virtuosic passages and sudden changes in tempo. The quartet often plays in a frenzied, almost chaotic manner, creating a sense of excitement and urgency. Overall, Webern's String Quartet, Op. 28, is characterized by its use of sparse textures, sudden changes in dynamics and tempo, and a sense of tension and unease. The quartet is a prime example of Webern's unique approach to composition, which emphasized the use of serialism and atonality to create music that was highly structured and tightly controlled.

More....