
The Life of Webern
Kathryn Bailey(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 28. April 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
238 pages
978-0-521-57566-9 (ISBN)
Description
On 15 September, 1945 the composer Anton Webern was shot in confusing circumstances in a small mountain village near Salzburg, and the world lost a composer of extreme originality whose mature music was still almost unknown. When Webern's works did come to light he immediately became one of the most influential figures in music of the second half of this century. But the composer who was hailed as the originator of the hyperintellectualised serialism of the 1950s and 60s was by nature an ardent romantic who held feeling - and comprehensibility - to be important above all else in art. This book focuses on several aspects of Webern's life that have been treated only briefly in earlier accounts: his youthful instability, his often embarrassing dependence on Schoenberg, his naive nationalism and his absolute belief in the value of the brief moments of music he produced.
Reviews / Votes
' ... a very welcome contribution to the Webern literature.' Judy Brown, Music and Letters ' ... concise and clear-headed ...'. David Schiff, The Times Literary Supplement ' ... a refreshing account which demystifies Webern without losing sight of the peculiar qualities of his music ...'. Julian Johnson, Musical TimesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
20 Halftones, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
341 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-57566-9 (9780521575669)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Kathryn Bailey
The Life of Webern
Book
04/1998
Cambridge University Press
€34.61
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition

Kathryn Bailey
The Life of Webern
Book
04/1998
Cambridge University Press
€34.61
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
Prologue; 1. 1883-1902 Childhood and school years; 2. 1902-8 Shaping forces; 3. 1908-14 Instability makes itself known; 4. 1914-21 Vacillations continue; 5. 1922-8 Changes of direction; 6. 1928-33 The path to new music; 7. 1933-8 Before the Anschluss; 8. 1938-45 After the Anschluss; Epilogue.