Composer

:

Anton Webern

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1941 - 1943

Average_duration

:

15:10

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Anton Webern's Cantata No. 2, Op. 31, was composed in 1941 and premiered in Vienna on February 8, 1942. The cantata is divided into three movements and is scored for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass soloists, mixed choir, and chamber orchestra. The first movement, "Bewegt," is characterized by its lively and energetic tempo. The choir and orchestra alternate in a call-and-response style, with the choir singing short phrases that are echoed by the orchestra. The soloists enter one by one, each singing a short, angular melody that is repeated and developed throughout the movement. The overall effect is one of constant motion and tension. The second movement, "Sehr langsam," is a stark contrast to the first. It is slow and mournful, with the soloists singing long, sustained notes over a sparse accompaniment. The choir enters briefly, singing a few lines of text before fading away. The movement is marked by a sense of stillness and contemplation. The final movement, "Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell," returns to the lively tempo of the first. The choir and orchestra are once again in dialogue, with the choir singing short, rhythmic phrases that are answered by the orchestra. The soloists enter one by one, each singing a more complex and virtuosic melody than in the first movement. The movement builds to a frenzied climax before abruptly ending. Overall, Cantata No. 2 is a prime example of Webern's mature style, characterized by its brevity, economy of means, and intense emotional expression. The text, taken from a poem by Hildegard Jone, deals with themes of love, death, and redemption, and Webern's music captures the full range of these emotions with remarkable economy and precision.

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