Great Composers: Anton Webern

A look at the grandfather of serialism.
This was a video request from KZbinrs BASSOONISTFROMHELL and Eric Rakestraw. See all current requests at www.lentovivace...
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Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
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Music:
- Anton Webern: Variations, Op. 27, performed by Chiara Bertoglio
[free recording courtesy pianosociety.com]
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
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Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
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All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@jeremybray9586]

Webern stepped outside to smoke, because his young grandson, a baby, was in the house and he didn't want to disturb the child. What a tragedy for him and the young soldier.

[@rw31415]

Indeed. Moldenhauer, Hans. 1961. The Death of Anton Webern: A Drama in Documents. New York: Philosophical Library. OCLC 512111

[@orion5992]

Webern was a "complete" genius. He could form intense emotion with very few notes. For example, his string quartet op.28. As well as in many other works.

[@TheGloryofMusic]

Webern's Cantata Opus 29 is one of the great works of the 20th century and is a favorite of mine.

[@BarunChandaHere]

Nice work. Zappa had talked about Webern not being recorded properly in any of the complete works, my favourite is still the Boulez version.

[@planthi80]

Great posting.....would you consider doing an in-depth documentary on him. Also on the 2nd Viennese school?

[@taylorlao8241]

thank you for your video

[@1MRBASSMAN]

Love your informative and entertaining videos. Even if you do misuse the word "belie."

[@Mackeson3]

10:57 If you thinks that's bad : "Put a worm in a glass of whiskey and within seconds it will die. Moral of the story? If you've got worms, drink whiskey."

[@timothytikker1147]

Webern was born the very same month as Edgard Varèse! EV arrived 19 days after AW.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!!

[@skullduggery3377]

'doors' guy jim morrison sites webern as an influence.

[@tristanpaxton51]

How does his "tone color melody" differ from a hocket? I LOVE your channel. ... Love it!!

[@ClassicalNerd]

A hocket bounces between multiple instruments (usually two) in a more rhythmically precise way. It's an early music technique. _Klangfarbenmelodie_ is an extension of serialism in that (in Webern) it's typically tied into the notes or operates on its own timbre-row, analogous to a tone row.

[@franklinsterling8787]

With the hokiest lyrics on earth, the Doktor is a real nature-boy!❤

[@UnDead483]

Could we take a moment to appreciate what a great anti-smoking slogan we were given here? I see no reason why this shouldn't go on billboards. "Don't smoke... I guess... You might get shot." Thomas Little, 2018

[@OperaCantata]

I would say Webern's 2nd cantata sounds almost tonal to me. At least it sounds very coherent. Maybe it is because of this sound colour technique. Another thing I'd like to say is that in Russia, right before the Communist revolution, another group of atonal composers that did produce far superior works to that of The Second Viennese school, was emerging.Post-Scriabinists, I would call them. For example, Protopopov, Mosolov, Roslavets.

[@joshsussman9432]

I know and like these Russians but, from my point of view, they are not even close to the wonderful compositions of the Viennese school.

[@screambeyond]

I'm afraid your chauvinism has made of you a total ignorant. Let's say that your ignorance is truly superior, indeed.

[@screambeyond]

@@joshsussman9432 Actually I was introduced to atonal music through Mosolov and Protopopov, since my teacher was Belarusian, and that's why atonal music didn't get my attention at the beginning. Only later I got into the Second Viennese school and got utterly impressed. What those Russians made was a very traditionalist and plain copy of what they made in Europe way before, as they always do.

[@joshsussman9432]

@@screambeyond Zero chauvinism, zero ignorance. Your message below is much more engaging, very interesting and I'd be happy to discuss with you there. This comment is nonsense.

[@carlosmontejano3334]

Can you do Arron Copland? I would be so happy if you did that!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Copland is up third in the request queue, so that video will be out within a month from today!

[@carlosmontejano3334]

Classical Nerd that's so amazing to hear, thank you for the info!!! On more request can you do Lili or Nadia Boulanger?

[@ClassicalNerd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/omXIhISIqt6IedU kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2PPhWuDr8SAj5I

[@paulrxxxmann6718]

after 60 years i still dont know what twelvetone is ... is it like blockchain , similarly born to be obscure ? anyway, it stil sounds like that famous squeaky gate. ( yes i am a fillistine )........................................................

[@MyPurpleTeeth]

When are you going to post a segment on Jean Sibelius?

[@MyPurpleTeeth]

Luciano Berio would be great, too!

[@ClassicalNerd]

All of my composer videos are in my "Great Composers" playlist [ kzbin.info/aero/PLkaVvuj0OEZ1LwVYnAUV4dxLa6YYaslwT ]. I made a video on Sibelius in June 2018 [ kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJfLk6GtrbaWjrc ]. Your request for Berio has been added to the request pool: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@SunriseFireberry]

Pointillist? U mean the Seurat of composers?

[@joshsussman9432]

Yes, although in Webern there is an Austrian feel whereas Seurat is purely French.

[@davidvanmersbergen5335]

Thanks for the biography. His music is still ugly and horrible to listen to...

[@valmandel85]

Absolutely nothing is great about this so called Composer. If you have been given a pair of ears, you should recognize this immediately

[@ClassicalNerd]

It's the name of the series.

[@Xylus.]

I want to get high with BASSOONISTFROMHELL. Got the Locust Abortion Technician album cover on there, and they're asking for some Webern. My band director always said bassoonists are the absolute weirdest musicians, and he was right lmao (myself included).