Composer

:

Anton Webern

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1909

Average_duration

:

11:36

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Anton Webern's "Movements (5) for string quartet, Op. 5" is a significant work in the development of 20th-century music. The piece was composed in 1909 and premiered in Vienna on March 6, 1910. The movements are brief, with a total duration of approximately six minutes. The first movement is marked "Sehr mäßig" (very moderate) and is characterized by a sparse texture and a sense of restraint. The second movement, "Leicht, zart" (light, delicate), is more lyrical and features a prominent melody in the first violin. The third movement, "Fließend" (flowing), is the longest of the five and is marked by a continuous stream of sixteenth notes. The fourth movement, "Sehr langsam" (very slow), is a mournful adagio that features a prominent cello melody. The final movement, "Äußerst bewegt" (extremely lively), is a frenzied scherzo that brings the work to a thrilling conclusion. Webern's "Movements" are notable for their use of serialism, a compositional technique that involves organizing musical elements (such as pitches, rhythms, and dynamics) into a predetermined sequence. Webern's use of serialism in this work is relatively simple compared to his later works, but it still represents a significant departure from traditional tonal harmony. The "Movements" are also notable for their brevity and economy of means. Each movement is tightly constructed and features a limited number of musical ideas. This economy of means would become a hallmark of Webern's later works, which often feature extremely short movements and sparse textures. Overall, Webern's "Movements (5) for string quartet, Op. 5" is a significant work in the development of 20th-century music. Its use of serialism and economy of means would influence generations of composers, and its brevity and intensity continue to captivate audiences today.

More....