Anton Webern - Symphony Op. 21

Symphony, Op. 21 (1927-1928) I. Ruhig schreitend II. Variationen: Thema. Sehr ruhig-- Var. I. Lebhafter Var. II. Sehr lebhaft Var. III. Wieder mässiger Var. IV. Äusserst ruhig Var. V. Sehr lebhaft Var. VI. Marschmässig. Nicht eilen Var. VII. Etwas breiter Coda Berliner Philharmoniker Pierre Boulez The Symphony, Op. 21, was the first large-scale orchestral work Webern had written since the Five Pieces, Op. 10, 15 years earlier. The work marks the beginning of a period of extreme compression in Webern’s music. Dedicated to his daughter Christine, the Symphony is a work of severe economy and restrained expression. Its symmetrical structure and pointillistic texture are quintessential hallmarks of Webern’s mature compositional style. Scored for clarinet, bass clarinet, two horns, harp, first and second violins, viola, and cello, the Symphony is widely regarded as a masterpiece in miniature: Webern’s teacher and mentor Arnold Schoenberg was astounded and moved by the work’s concision. Like most of Webern’s 12