Webern: Works for String Quartet

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Opening with the longest single movement Anton Webern ever composed, this collection of his nine works for string quartet and trio covers his entire career. For starters, it bears reminding that the first, longest movement he wrote encompasses a mere nine minutes--glorious minutes, but only nine of them. They make up the 1905 string quartet, taken abundantly through its most sonorous dialogues by the Emerson String Quartet, who provide a lavish setting in Lawrence Dutton's viola for the crucial middle ground between David Finckel's robust cello and the sometimes jarred, sometimes whizzing violins of Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer. Beyond the first string quartet, there are loads of vantages here from which to examine postserial music. For while Webern owed much to Schoenberg's revolution, he owed even more to an inherently economic sense of wholeness. These are miniatures, really, each cutting rapidly to the quick of the matter and finding sometimes abrupt completion. It's perfect music for an era when the tension between experimentation and economy of phrasing urges on creative motion. And here it's perfectly played: tense, sad, sweet, and urgent. --Andrew Bartlett

Webern: Works for String Quartet, Music, Composer: Anton Webern, Performer: Emerson String Quartet, Chamber, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Quartet for Four String Instruments, Trio for Three String Instruments

Average customer rating:

economical emotional expression.

the Emerson Quartet's Webern is a man with a plan

This is not a reference recording

Quite good

Webern: Works for String Quartet
Composer: Anton Webern , and Performer: Emerson String Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001GOW
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Slow Movement For String Quartet: Langsam, mit bewegtem Ausdruck
Five Movements for String Quartet: I Heftig bewegt
Five Movements for String Quartet: II Sehr langsam
Five Movements for String Quartet: III Sehr bewegt
Five Movements for String Quartet: IV Sehr langsam
Five Movements for String Quartet: V In zarter Bewegung
String Quartet: Duster un schwer-Mit grossem Schwung-Sehr schnell und stark-Langsam-Sehr langsam-Sehr ausdrucksvoll und sehr lebhaft-Mit grosster Warme-Mit grosster Macht-Sehr breit-Mit innigstem und ganz zartem Ausdruck-Zart bewegt-Sehr langsam
Six Bagatelles for String Quartet: I MaBig
Six Bagatelles for String Quartet: II Leicht bewegt
Six Bagatelles for String Quartet: III Ziemlich fliessend
Six Bagatelles for String Quartet: IV Sehr langsam
Six Bagatelles for String Quartet: V Aisserst langsam
Six Bagatelles for String Quartet: VI Fliessend
Rondo For String Quartet: Bewegt
Movement for String Trio: Ruhig fliessend
Three Pieces For String Quartet: I Bewegt
Three Pieces For String Quartet: II Langsam
Three Pieces For String Quartet: III Nicht zu langsam
String Tio Op. 20: I Sehr langsam
String Tio Op. 20: II Sehr getragen und ausdrucksvoll
String Quartet op. 28: I MaBig
String Quartet op. 28: II Gemachlich-Bewegt
String Quartet op. 28: III Sehr fliebend

Amazon.com essential recording

Opening with the longest single movement Anton Webern ever composed, this collection of his nine works for string quartet and trio covers his entire career. For starters, it bears reminding that the first, longest movement he wrote encompasses a mere nine minutes--glorious minutes, but only nine of them. They make up the 1905 string quartet, taken abundantly through its most sonorous dialogues by the Emerson String Quartet, who provide a lavish setting in Lawrence Dutton's viola for the crucial middle ground between David Finckel's robust cello and the sometimes jarred, sometimes whizzing violins of Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer. Beyond the first string quartet, there are loads of vantages here from which to examine postserial music. For while Webern owed much to Schoenberg's revolution, he owed even more to an inherently economic sense of wholeness. These are miniatures, really, each cutting rapidly to the quick of the matter and finding sometimes abrupt completion. It's perfect music for an era when the tension between experimentation and economy of phrasing urges on creative motion. And here it's perfectly played: tense, sad, sweet, and urgent. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

economical emotional expression........2006-03-17

Few things excite me like modernist chamber music, but Webern's works for string quartet have never really grabbed me. How disappointing! Or so I thought. Today I spent several hours listening through these pieces chronologically. Now it all makes sense: The longer pieces, all the earliest Webern wrote (the slow movement, the string quartet, and the rondo), are pleasant and unambitious. They all carry with them the influence of Webern's teacher, Arnold Schoenberg. These early pieces lack much in the way of identity and compositional rigor, as they seem to be more in the business of evoking _Verlarkte nacht_ and Schoenberg's first quartet than anything Webern-esque!

After these early works, things get interesting -- and the only real `problem' is that Webern's compositions are so short that if your attention wanders for even a second you'll have missed a pivotal moment in the piece! Therein lies the challenge of "getting" the music. Webern's music is carried out with introverted efficiency so, as a listener, you must be very committed with your attention. The first piece to explore the alien world of atonality is _five movements for string quartet_, which lasts only eight or nine minutes. Its colorful gestures, like percussive effect by striking with the wood of the bow and progressive intervals, invite one into the exciting soundworld of artists setting out for the world of atonality, which is limited only by one's imagination.

Webern's imagination blooms with great-yet-compact results, as he writes pieces even shorter than the _five movements_. Yet here, in a brief phase before he adopted Schoenberg's serialist method, he preserves affecting power of expression in pieces whose movements are virtually never longer than a minute. The _six bagatelles_ and _three pieces_, expressing loss and sadness, are painful to listen to. They are, it seems, "pieces" in a more denotative sense of the term -- fragments of painful emotion, rendered with articulate and unconventional language and technique. (the song-piece, the second part of the _three pieces_, is performed by mezzo-soprano Mary Ann-McCormick with exquisite pain).

Three pieces for string trio and quartet emerge with the advent of serialism. These are remarkable pieces -- again, short but precious. Be it the angular, swirling motions a surprising melodicism of op.20, or the perfect, careful conception of op.28, with its deep lyrical beauty scattered across the different instruments with prudent economy and emotional sensitivity, Webern's late serialist chamber works are some of the finest to be offered.

Webern's string music is epic in its emotional dimension, not its size and scope. Within these short pieces are systems of necessity, pure and without artificial extension. I can't believe it took me so long to appreciate them.

the Emerson Quartet's Webern is a man with a plan.......2005-06-13

I have had this set of Webern's string quartets and trios by the Emerson Quartet (EQ) on the shelf for years, and have seldom been motivated to listen to it. I finally found an alternative that I feel is much better by the Schoenberg Quartet (CHAMBER MUSIC FOR STRINGS -- see my review). In comparing the two, the EQ takes the tempos faster -- no surprise! -- and this has the effect of making it sound as if there is a clear plan to get from point A to point B: "we don't know where we're going, but we're going to get there briskly and efficiently." Whether it's the technique or the DG recording or both, the sound of this disc is airless and cramped, a bit inhuman.

You might conclude that this was Webern's intent, until you hear the Schoenberg Quartet! Their Webern, by contrast, is a seeker, and you are invited to join him, and the performers, in wondering just what we've gotten ourselves into, and trying to figure it all out. The sound is warm and spacious, and their tempos are slower than the EQ, but not quite as slow as the Juilliard Quartet, whose late-'60s recordings are included in the Sony box (WEBERN: COMPLETE WORKS (Op. 1-31) with Boulez conducting -- see my review), which makes it all sound tragic. These EQ recordings, by the way, from 1992-1994, are included in the 2000 DG box, COMPLETE WEBERN, also with Boulez conducting the orchestral works.

If you were going to choose only one recording, then, my strong recommendation is the Schoenberg Quartet on Chandos. However, the EQ and SQ discs are not strictly speaking the same -- they mainly include the same works but with the following exceptions: the EQ plays the "Movement for String Trio," a posthumously published work from 1925, and the "Three Pieces for String Quartet" with soprano from 1913, while the SQ omits these and plays instead "Four Pieces" (Op. 7) for violin and piano from 1910-1914, the "Sonata" (Op. post) for cello and piano of 1914, and "Three Little Pieces" (Op. 11) for cello and piano, also of 1914.

This is not a reference recording.......2004-01-29

There have never been so many recordings of Webern's music in the market as now, and the string quartets are particularly well-represented. However, the present recording of the quartets and trios is very far from being the best one, especially concerning the early pieces (without opus-number) that sound rather unrehearsed and unexpressive. It is lamentable that just this recording was included in DG's "Complete Webern" box. Instead of this CD I recommend the recording with the Arditti Quartet (Disques Montaigne; this CD was released at least 3 times since 1991). The Schoenberg Quartet and the Leipzig Quartet have also released very good CDs but the choice of pieces is not quite the same. The recording with the Quarteto Italiano is unfortunately out of the catalogue since many years.

Quite good.......2000-06-21

If you like Webern, these are simply indespensible--and you probably know that already and are wasting your time reading reviews that would better be spent buying them. If you don't know whether you like Webern, be warned that this isn't music for the faint-hearted. It's musically very dense and concentrated, yet sonorally very sparse, requiring the constant attention of the listener. Nonetheless, it is immensely expressive and harmonically very beautiful. To most, nonetheless, it sounds like Psycho-music, as even Webern fans must concede. Many items on this disc are some of Dr. Webern's most accessible, but highly expressionist nonetheless. As for the performances, they are astounding. The bagatelles are played with a tad bit more precision by Kronos (Winter was Hard), but not with the warmth, sonority, and energy with which Emerson plays them. All in all, I prefer this rendition.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Webern from the master Boulez and company.
Webern may grow on you and Boulez et al. are worth every penny.
Interesting and Challenging
The original and still the best
Boulez's Webern -- brilliant modern miniatures

Anton Webern: Complete Works, Opp. 1-31
Anton Webern , Pierre Boulez , Heather Harper , Charles Rosen , Isaac Stern , Halina Lukomska , Colin Bradbury , John [guitar] Williams , Daniel Majeske , Robert Marcellus , Abraham Weinstein , and Barry McDaniel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002707
Release Date: 1991-02-08

Tracks:

Passacaglia fur grobes Orch Op.1 - LSO/Pierre Boulez
'Entflieht auf leichten Kahnen' Op.2 (Text: Stefan George) - John Alldis Chor/Pierre Boulez
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: I. Dies ist ein Lied fur dich allein... - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: II. Im Windesweben-Sehr fliebend - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: III. Am Bachesranft-Ziemlich rasch - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: IV. Im Morgentaun-Fliebend - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: V. Kahl reckt der Baum-Langsam - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: I. Eingang-Ruhevoll - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: II. Noch zwingt mich Treue-Bewgt - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: III. Ja Heil und Dank-Sehr langsam - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: IV. So ich traurig bin-Sehr fliebend und zart - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: V. Ihr tratet zu dem Herde-Langsam - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: I. Heftig bewegt - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: II. Sehr langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: III. Sehr bewget - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: IV. Sehr langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: V. In zarter Bewegung - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: I. Etwas bewegte Achtel - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: II. Bewgt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: III. Zart bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: IV. Langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez L
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: V. Sehr langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: VI. Zart bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: I. Sehr langsam - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: II. Rasch - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: III. Sehr langsam - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: IV. Bewegt - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Zwei Lieder fur mittlere Stimme und acht Instrumente Op.8, nach gedichten von Rainer Maria Rikle:... - Heather Harper
Zwei Lieder fur mittlere Stimme und acht Instrumente Op.8, nach gedichten von Rainer Maria Rikle:... - Heather Harper
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: I. Mabig - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: II. Leicht bewegt - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: III. Zeimlich fliebend - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: IV. Sehr langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: V. Auberst langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: VI. Fliebend - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: I. Sehr ruhig und zart - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: II. Lebhaft und zart bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: III. Sehr langsam und auberst ruhig - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: IV. Fliebend, auberst zart - LSO/Pierre Boulez L
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: V. Sehr fliebend - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Drei kleine Stucke fur Violoncello und Klavier Op.11: I. Mabige Achtel - Gregor Piatigorsky/Charles Rosen
Drei kleine Stucke fur Violoncello und Klavier Op.11: II. Sehr bewegt - Gregor Piatigorsky/Charles Rosen
Drei kleine Stucke fur Violoncello und Klavier Op.11: III. Auberst ruhig - Gregor Piatigorsky/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: I. Der Tag ist vergangen (Volkslied)-Sehr ruhig - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: II. Die geheimnisvolle Flote (Li Tai po/Bethge)-... - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: III. Schein mir's als ich sah die (aus August ... - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: IV. Ein Winterabend (Goethe0-Sehr flieBend - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen

Tracks:

Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: I. Wiese im Park (karl Kraus)-Sehr ruhig - Heather Harper
Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: II. Die Einsame (Wang Xen Yu/Bethge)-Bewegt - Heather Harper
Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: III. In der Fremde (Li Tai Po/Bethge)-FlieBend - Heather Harper
Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: IV. Ein Winterabend (Georg Trakl)-Sehr ruhig - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: I. Die... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: II. ... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: III. ... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: IV. ... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: V. Nachts... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: VI. Gesang.. - Heather Harper
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: I. Das Kreuz-Getragen - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: II. Morgenlied (aus'Des Knaben... - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: III. In Gottes Namen aufstehn-... - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: IV. Mein Weg geht jetzt voruber-... - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: V. Fahr hin , o Seel'-FlieBend - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: I. Christus... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: II. Dormi... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: III. Crux... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: IV. Asperges... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: V. Crucem... - Halina Lukomska
Drei Volkstexte fur Singstimme und drei Instrumente Op.17: I. Armer Sunder, du - Halina Lukomska
Drei Volkstexte fur Singstimme und drei Instrumente Op.17: II. Liebste Jungfrau, wir sind dein - Halina Lukomska
Drei Volkstexte fur Singstimme und drei Instrumente Op.17: III. Heiland, unsre Missetaten - Halina Lukomska
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme, Es-Klarinette und Gitarre Op.18: I. Schatzerl klein - Halina Lukomska/John Williams/Colin Bradley
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme, Es-Klarinette und Gitarre Op.18: II. Erlosung - Halina Lukomska/John Williams/Colin Bradley
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme, Es-Klarinette und Gitarre Op.18: III. Ave Regina - Halina Lukomska/John Williams/Colin Bradley
Zwei Lieder fur gemischten Chor und funf Instrumente Op.19, aus'Chinesisch-deutsche Jahres-... - John Alldis Choir/Pierre Boulez
Zwei Lieder fur gemischten Chor und funf Instrumente Op.19, aus'Chinesisch-deutsche Jahres-... - John Alldis Choir/Pierre Boulez
Streichtrio Op.20: I. Sehr langsam - Members of the Juilliard Str Qt
Streichtrio Op.20: II. Sehr getragen und ausdrucksvoll - Members of the Juilliard Str Qt
Sym Op.21: I. Ruhig schreitend - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sym Op.21: II. Variationen - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Qt fur Geige, Klarinette, Tenorsaxophon un Klavier Op.22: I. Sehr maBig - Charles Rosen/Daniel Majeske/Robert Marcellus/Abraham Weinstein
Qt fur Geige, Klarinette, Tenorsaxophon un Klavier Op.22: II. Sehr schwungvoll - Charles Rosen/Daniel Majeske/Robert Marcellus/Abraham Weinstein
Drei Gesange Op.23, aus 'Viae inviae' von Hildegard Jone: I. Das dunkle Herz-Getragen - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Gesange Op.23, aus 'Viae inviae' von Hildegard Jone: II. Es sturzt aus hohen Frisch-Bewegt - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Gesange Op.23, aus 'Viae inviae' von Hildegard Jone: III. Herr Jesus mein-Langsam - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Konzert fur neum Instrumente Op.24: I. Etwas lebhaft - Members of the LSO/Pierre Boulez
Konzert fur neum Instrumente Op.24: II. Sehr langsam - Members of the LSO/Pierre Boulez
Konzert fur neum Instrumente Op.24: III. Sehr rasch - Members of the LSO/Pierre Boulez
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.25, nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone: I. Wie bin ich... - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.25, nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone: II. Des Herzens... - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.25, nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone: III. Sterne, Ihr... - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen

Tracks:

'Das Augenlicht' fur gemischten Chor und Orch Op.26, Worte von Hildegard Jone - John Alldis Chor/Pierre Boulez
Variationen fur Klavier Op.27: I. Sehr maBig - Charles Rosen
Variationen fur Klavier Op.27: II. Sehr schnell - Charles Rosen
Variationen fur Klavier Op.27: III. Ruhig flieBend - Charles Rosen
Streichquartett Op.28: I. MaBig - Juilliard Str Qt
Streichquartett Op.28: II. Gemachlich - Juilliard Str Qt
Streichquartett Op.28: III. Sehr flieBend - Juilliard Str Qt
Kantate Nr.1 Op.29, Worte von Hildegard Jone: I. Zundender Lichtblitz-Getragen - Halina Lukomska/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.1 Op.29, Worte von Hildegard Jone: II. Kleiner Flugel, Ahornsamen-Leicht bewegt - Halina Lukomska/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.1 Op.29, Worte von Hildegard Jone: III. Tonen die seligen Saiten -Ruhig - Halina Lukomska/John Alldis Chor
Variationen fur Orch Op.30 - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: I. BaB. Schweigt auch die Welt - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: II. BaB. Sehr tiefverhalten - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: III. Chor. Schopfen aus Brunnen des Himmels - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: IV. Sopran. Leichteste Burden der Baume - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: V. Chor. Freundselig ist das Wort - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: VI. Chor. Gelockert aus dem SchoBe - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: I. Heftig bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: II. Sehr langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: III. Sehr bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: IV. Sehr langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: V. In zarter Bewegung - LSO/Pierre Boulez
J.S. Bach/A. Webern: Fuga (Ricercata) Nr.2 aus dem 'Musikalischen Opfer' - LSO/Pierre Boulez
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): I. - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): II. (I.Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): III. (I.Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): IV. - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): V. (IV. Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): VI. (IV. Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern

Amazon.com essential recording

This collection presents all Webern's works with opus numbers in chronological order, allowing listeners to scrutinize the inner workings of this influential composer's intense, compressed style from the lush Passacaglia to the starkness of his late vocal works. A broadcast recording of Webern conducting a group of Schubert Dances makes a lively bonus. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Webern from the master Boulez and company........2006-09-12

Boulez has a DG recording, which I have several singles from that set. The DG is very good and recommended as a second set. This Sony recording is outstanding and the finest in my Webern collection. If you have this set , you still may want to look at the DG set. Why? Because this music is so wonderful, so that another experience is well worth the price of say $40. But if you have the DG set, you definetly want to keep that set and also get this Sony set.
Notice how few new Webern recordings are released. When conductors hear this set, I guess they feel its pointless to try to meet these standards. The artists here are all in excellent form and understanding of this extremely difficult but rewarding music.

Webern may grow on you and Boulez et al. are worth every penny........2005-09-18

If you are looking for an introduction to Webern, give this a try. It has the advatage of being comprehensive and well played. If you don't like all of Webern, so be it. If you buy this recording and give it a few listenings you will have heard enough to make an informed judgement.

I have found that Webern's music demands mutiple hearings before you can say you've really heard it. When you are in the mood for some 20th century pioneering work, turn to this recording and listen. Over time, you will be glad you did.

Interesting and Challenging.......2004-04-09

I don't know if I "like" Webern, but he is certainly interesting and challenging. The textures of his music are very fragile and transparent. The pieces are extraordinarily economical (the average Webern piece, I would guess, is about two minutes in duration, maybe less). The dissonances are extreme (strange to say, twelve-tone music can vary in how dissonant it sounds, as some twelve-tone composers (Berg, for example) use "easier" tone rows as the bases of their works). Webern was a musician of great integrity, and he pushed twelve-tone music to the radical extreme (as compared his more conservative teacher, Schoenberg, and fellow-pupil, Berg.) Again, I don't know if it works, and I don't know if I like it. I will definitely continue to listen to it. What I definitely like is this wonderful recording, with performances lovingly rendered. For this reason, I'm giving the recording five stars. However, if you want an "easier" introduction to twelve-tone and atonal music, get Berg's Violin Concerto, or even Schoenberg's piano concerto. With respect to the Schoenberg piano concerto, Mitsuko Uchida's disc is wonderful, and is highly recommended.

The original and still the best.......2003-11-25

Boulez's seminal original recordings of Webern are still important today. They capture the extraordinary distance this composer travelled from his tonal opus 1 passacaglia, though the atonal expressionism of the opus 5 and opus 6 pieces, the extreme compression of the opus 9 bagatelles, the contrapuntal abstraction of the mid-period songs to the serial masterpieces of his later years. These pieces still divide concert audiences today--I've been to Webern performances where half the audience was electrified and the other half clearly wanted to be elsewhere--but their historical significance cannot be denied. I believe their musical significance cannot either: close on a dozen of these works are amongst the finest pieces the 20th century has to offer. This set of performances, dating from the late 1960s and early 1970s and largely recorded under the direction by Pierre Boulez, has long since been regarded as being as close to definitive as one can get. I wouldn't go so far--there are occasional less impressive performances (such as the saxophone quartet) amongst the very fine ones. However, as complete sets go, I find the performances here largely superior to Boulez's more recent traversal on DG.

Technically, this set is not a Complete Works. It only includes those works that Webern published with an opus number, with the addition of the composer's wonderful orchestral transcription of the Ricercare a 6 from Bach's Musical Offering, and an old recording of Webern conducting his orchestrations of Schubert's German Dances. There are more works included on Boulez's rival set on DG--at twice the price--but most of what you gain are juvenilia.

And, for those who remain unconvinced that they'd like Webern, check out http://www.antonwebern.com -- a website that has free streaming mp3s of several of the recordings on this set. Listen to a few of them a few times (though skip the opus 16-18 songs, some of his driest works), and then decide.

Boulez's Webern -- brilliant modern miniatures.......2001-11-27

All 31 works that Webern gave official Opus numbers on 3 discs, conducted by Boulez (not Kolbe!), with the Juilliard Quartet and the London Symphony Orchestra, and a superb booklet with commentary and lyrics -- so why only 4 stars? My objection is the strictly chronological presentation, and the fact that I am not won over by Webern's vocal works -- I would vastly prefer grouping the music by form. Everything is brilliantly performed, and Charles Rosen, who accompanies sopranos on piano on several pieces, plays with sparkling luminosity. But the reason I sought out this collection is because I wanted to hear Boulez's versions of Webern's masterpieces, the "Symphony (Op. 21)" and "Variations for Orchestra (Op. 30)," as well as the string trios and quartets. Here these instrumental works are mixed among the lieders, Webern's many vocal works, and I find this frustrating. I prefer hearing the instrumental pieces grouped together, as on the Dohnanyi or Sinopoli discs of orchestral works (see my reviews of both), or the Schoenberg or Emerson Quartet's discs of the string trios and quartets (see my reviews of both). Unfortunately there is not a Boulez disc comparable to the Dohnanyi (on London) or Sinopoli (on Teldec). So it's either this Sony box or the several more recently recorded discs on DG, unless of course you are a total Webern fanatic and want the Ultra-Complete box with all the numbered AND un-numbered pieces...

It's really hard to fault this excellent Webern collection. Obviously if you have a more catholic appreciation of Webern's music than I (including the vocal works), my criticism is irrelevant. If you are a completist on a budget, this is a clear choice over the more expensive box. But if you are looking for an introduction to Webern's music, the best of which is some of the best of the 20th century in my opinion, I suggest that you begin with 1) Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra, and 2) the Schoenberg Quartet.

[There is a mistake on the site. Pierre Boulez is the conductor, not Helmuth Kolbe. Careful inspection of the box reveals that Kolbe was the engineer...]

Average customer rating:

Anton Webern: Complete Works, Opp. 1-31

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000263PF
Release Date: 1991-03-04

Tracks:

Passacaglia fur grobes Orch Op.1 - LSO/Pierre Boulez
'Entflieht auf leichten Kahnen' Op.2 (Text: Stefan George) - John Alldis Chor/Pierre Boulez
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: I. Dies ist ein Lied fur dich allein... - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: II. Im Windesweben-Sehr fliebend - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: III. Am Bachesranft-Ziemlich rasch - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: IV. Im Morgentaun-Fliebend - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.3, aus 'Der siebente Ring' von Stefan George: V. Kahl reckt der Baum-Langsam - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: I. Eingang-Ruhevoll - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: II. Noch zwingt mich Treue-Bewgt - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: III. Ja Heil und Dank-Sehr langsam - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: IV. So ich traurig bin-Sehr fliebend und zart - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Lieder Op.4, nach Gedichten von Stefan George: V. Ihr tratet zu dem Herde-Langsam - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: I. Heftig bewegt - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: II. Sehr langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: III. Sehr bewget - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: IV. Sehr langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett Op.5: V. In zarter Bewegung - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: I. Etwas bewegte Achtel - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: II. Bewgt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: III. Zart bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: IV. Langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez L
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: V. Sehr langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sechs Stucke fur grobes Orch Op.6: VI. Zart bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: I. Sehr langsam - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: II. Rasch - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: III. Sehr langsam - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Vier Stucke fur Geige und Klavier Op.7: IV. Bewegt - Isaac Stern/Charles Rosen
Zwei Lieder fur mittlere Stimme und acht Instrumente Op.8, nach gedichten von Rainer Maria Rikle:... - Heather Harper
Zwei Lieder fur mittlere Stimme und acht Instrumente Op.8, nach gedichten von Rainer Maria Rikle:... - Heather Harper
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: I. Mabig - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: II. Leicht bewegt - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: III. Zeimlich fliebend - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: IV. Sehr langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: V. Auberst langsam - Juilliard Str Qt
Sechs Bagatellen fur Streichquartett Op.9: VI. Fliebend - Juilliard Str Qt
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: I. Sehr ruhig und zart - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: II. Lebhaft und zart bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: III. Sehr langsam und auberst ruhig - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: IV. Fliebend, auberst zart - LSO/Pierre Boulez L
Funf Stucke fur Orchester Op.10: V. Sehr fliebend - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Drei kleine Stucke fur Violoncello und Klavier Op.11: I. Mabige Achtel - Gregor Piatigorsky/Charles Rosen
Drei kleine Stucke fur Violoncello und Klavier Op.11: II. Sehr bewegt - Gregor Piatigorsky/Charles Rosen
Drei kleine Stucke fur Violoncello und Klavier Op.11: III. Auberst ruhig - Gregor Piatigorsky/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: I. Der Tag ist vergangen (Volkslied)-Sehr ruhig - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: II. Die geheimnisvolle Flote (Li Tai po/Bethge)-... - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: III. Schein mir's als ich sah die (aus August ... - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen
Vier Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.12: IV. Ein Winterabend (Goethe0-Sehr flieBend - Heather Harper/Charles Rosen

Tracks:

Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: I. Wiese im Park (karl Kraus)-Sehr ruhig - Heather Harper
Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: II. Die Einsame (Wang Xen Yu/Bethge)-Bewegt - Heather Harper
Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: III. In der Fremde (Li Tai Po/Bethge)-FlieBend - Heather Harper
Vier Lieder fur Sopran und Orch Op.13: IV. Ein Winterabend (Georg Trakl)-Sehr ruhig - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: I. Die... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: II. ... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: III. ... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: IV. ... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: V. Nachts... - Heather Harper
Sechs Lieder fur Singstimme und vier Instrumente Op.14, nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl: VI. Gesang.. - Heather Harper
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: I. Das Kreuz-Getragen - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: II. Morgenlied (aus'Des Knaben... - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: III. In Gottes Namen aufstehn-... - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: IV. Mein Weg geht jetzt voruber-... - Halina Lukomska
Funf geistliche lieder fur Sopran und funf Instrumente Op.15: V. Fahr hin , o Seel'-FlieBend - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: I. Christus... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: II. Dormi... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: III. Crux... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: IV. Asperges... - Halina Lukomska
Funf Kanons nach lateinischen Texten fur Sopran, Klarineete und BaBklarinette Op.16: V. Crucem... - Halina Lukomska
Drei Volkstexte fur Singstimme und drei Instrumente Op.17: I. Armer Sunder, du - Halina Lukomska
Drei Volkstexte fur Singstimme und drei Instrumente Op.17: II. Liebste Jungfrau, wir sind dein - Halina Lukomska
Drei Volkstexte fur Singstimme und drei Instrumente Op.17: III. Heiland, unsre Missetaten - Halina Lukomska
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme, Es-Klarinette und Gitarre Op.18: I. Schatzerl klein - Halina Lukomska/John Williams/Colin Bradley
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme, Es-Klarinette und Gitarre Op.18: II. Erlosung - Halina Lukomska/John Williams/Colin Bradley
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme, Es-Klarinette und Gitarre Op.18: III. Ave Regina - Halina Lukomska/John Williams/Colin Bradley
Zwei Lieder fur gemischten Chor und funf Instrumente Op.19, aus'Chinesisch-deutsche Jahres-... - John Alldis Choir/Pierre Boulez
Zwei Lieder fur gemischten Chor und funf Instrumente Op.19, aus'Chinesisch-deutsche Jahres-... - John Alldis Choir/Pierre Boulez
Streichtrio Op.20: I. Sehr langsam - Members of the Juilliard Str Qt
Streichtrio Op.20: II. Sehr getragen und ausdrucksvoll - Members of the Juilliard Str Qt
Sym Op.21: I. Ruhig schreitend - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Sym Op.21: II. Variationen - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Qt fur Geige, Klarinette, Tenorsaxophon un Klavier Op.22: I. Sehr maBig - Charles Rosen/Daniel Majeske/Robert Marcellus/Abraham Weinstein
Qt fur Geige, Klarinette, Tenorsaxophon un Klavier Op.22: II. Sehr schwungvoll - Charles Rosen/Daniel Majeske/Robert Marcellus/Abraham Weinstein
Drei Gesange Op.23, aus 'Viae inviae' von Hildegard Jone: I. Das dunkle Herz-Getragen - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Gesange Op.23, aus 'Viae inviae' von Hildegard Jone: II. Es sturzt aus hohen Frisch-Bewegt - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Gesange Op.23, aus 'Viae inviae' von Hildegard Jone: III. Herr Jesus mein-Langsam - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Konzert fur neum Instrumente Op.24: I. Etwas lebhaft - Members of the LSO/Pierre Boulez
Konzert fur neum Instrumente Op.24: II. Sehr langsam - Members of the LSO/Pierre Boulez
Konzert fur neum Instrumente Op.24: III. Sehr rasch - Members of the LSO/Pierre Boulez
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.25, nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone: I. Wie bin ich... - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.25, nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone: II. Des Herzens... - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen
Drei Lieder fur Singstimme und Klavier Op.25, nach Gedichten von Hildegard Jone: III. Sterne, Ihr... - Halina Lukomska/Charles Rosen

Tracks:

'Das Augenlicht' fur gemischten Chor und Orch Op.26, Worte von Hildegard Jone - John Alldis Chor/Pierre Boulez
Variationen fur Klavier Op.27: I. Sehr maBig - Charles Rosen
Variationen fur Klavier Op.27: II. Sehr schnell - Charles Rosen
Variationen fur Klavier Op.27: III. Ruhig flieBend - Charles Rosen
Streichquartett Op.28: I. MaBig - Juilliard Str Qt
Streichquartett Op.28: II. Gemachlich - Juilliard Str Qt
Streichquartett Op.28: III. Sehr flieBend - Juilliard Str Qt
Kantate Nr.1 Op.29, Worte von Hildegard Jone: I. Zundender Lichtblitz-Getragen - Halina Lukomska/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.1 Op.29, Worte von Hildegard Jone: II. Kleiner Flugel, Ahornsamen-Leicht bewegt - Halina Lukomska/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.1 Op.29, Worte von Hildegard Jone: III. Tonen die seligen Saiten -Ruhig - Halina Lukomska/John Alldis Chor
Variationen fur Orch Op.30 - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: I. BaB. Schweigt auch die Welt - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: II. BaB. Sehr tiefverhalten - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: III. Chor. Schopfen aus Brunnen des Himmels - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: IV. Sopran. Leichteste Burden der Baume - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: V. Chor. Freundselig ist das Wort - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Kantate Nr.2 Op.31: VI. Chor. Gelockert aus dem SchoBe - Halina Lukomska/Barry McDaniel/John Alldis Chor
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: I. Heftig bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: II. Sehr langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: III. Sehr bewegt - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: IV. Sehr langsam - LSO/Pierre Boulez
Funf Satze fur Streinchquartett Op.5: V. In zarter Bewegung - LSO/Pierre Boulez
J.S. Bach/A. Webern: Fuga (Ricercata) Nr.2 aus dem 'Musikalischen Opfer' - LSO/Pierre Boulez
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): I. - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): II. (I.Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): III. (I.Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): IV. - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): V. (IV. Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern
F. Schubert: 'Deutsche Tanze' (German Dances/Danses allemandes/Danze tedesche): VI. (IV. Da capo) - Frankfurter Funkorchester/Anton Webern

Webern: Complete Works for String Quartet and String Trio

Average customer rating:

Most Warmly Recommended

Webern: Complete Works for String Quartet and String Trio
Anton Webern , and Artis Quartett Wien
Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005J6TY
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

Langsamer Satz: Slow Movt
Str Qt
Rondo
Five Movts, Op.5: I. Heftig Bewegt Tempo I - Etwas Ruhiger Tempo II
Five Movts, Op.5: II. Sehr Langsam
Five Movts, Op.5: III. Sehr Bewegt
Five Movts, Op.5: IV. Sehr Langsam
Five Movts, Op.5: V. In Zarter Bewegung
Six Bagatelles, Op.9: I. Massig
Six Bagatelles, Op.9: II. Leicht Bewegt
Six Bagatelles, Op.9: III. Ziemlich Fliessend
Six Bagatelles, Op.9: IV. Sehr Langsam
Six Bagatelles, Op.9: V. Ausserst Langsam
Six Bagatelles, Op.9: VI. Fliessend
Satz, Op.post: Movt: Ruhig Fliessend
Str Trio, Op.20: I. Sehr Langsam
Str Trio, Op.20: II. Sehr Getragen Und Ausdrucksvoll
Str Qt, Op.28: I. Massig
Str Qt, Op.28: Gemachlich
Str Qt, Op.28: Sehr Fliessend

Customer Reviews:

Most Warmly Recommended.......2004-04-10

This disk presents in chronological order all of Webern's works for string quartet and string trio. The listener is treated to a delicious odyssey that commences with the achingly romantic (not to mention tonal) Langsamer Satz of 1905 and terminates with the atonal Opus 28 of 1937/38. The gradual elimination of tonality as the composer assimilates more and more of Schoenberg's influence while simultaneously developing his own style is fascinating, the more so for having such competent performers as our guides. Vienna's Artis Quartett not only thoroughly understand this music, they play it AS music. As a result, these performances do not come across as abstract, cognoscenti-specific musings--anyone can assimilate these pieces.
I was delighted to discover in the extremely informative liner notes that the Artis are former students of my beloved Lasalle Quartet, who, for my money, still represent the standard by which most other performances in this repertoire are judged. Their students do them proud and deserve a place in your collection if this music is important to you. The disk is very well recorded with excellent sonics and serves admirably as a moderately-priced alternative to the Lasalle box for those seeking an introduction to this music.

Schoenberg, Berg, Webern: Orchestral Works / Karajan

Average customer rating:

Ridiculously overrated
Superlative recordings of innovative yet inspired music!
sold enough copies to equal the height of the eiffel tower
It's not the Beatles, It's Modern Mania courtesy of Karajan
A seductive invitation to the Second Viennese School

Schoenberg, Berg, Webern: Orchestral Works / Karajan

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht, Pelleas und Melisande / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Schoenberg: The String Quartets
Arnold Schoenberg: Serenade/Five Pieces For Orchestra
Berg: Violin Concerto; Schoenberg: Piano Concerto; Violin Concerto
Berg: Chamber Concerto; Three Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6; Violin Concerto

ASIN: B000031WYL
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

Passacaglia fur Orchester Op. 1
Drei Stucke aus der 'Lyrischen Suite': 2. Andante amoroso
Drei Stucke aus der 'Lyrischen Suite': 3. Allegro misterioso
Drei Stucke aus der 'Lyrischen Suite': 4. Adagio appassionato
Drei Orchesterstucke Op. 6: 1. Praludium Langsam
Drei Orchesterstucke Op. 6: 2. Reigen. Anfangs etwas zogernd - Leicht beschwingt
Drei Orchesterstucke Op. 6: 3. Marsch. Massiges Marschtempo
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Intoduktion. Massig, ruhig
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Thema. Molto moderato
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation I. Moderato
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation II. Langsam
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation III. Massig
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation IV. Walzertempo
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation V. Bewegt
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation VI. Andante
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation VII. Langsam
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation VIII. Sehr rasch
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Variation IX. L'istesso tempo; aber etwas langsamer
Variationen fur Orchester Op. 31: Finale. Massig schnell

Customer Reviews:

Ridiculously overrated.......2007-06-02

Why this recording has received one rave review after another over the years is beyond comprehension. Karajan's Webern Passacaglia sounds like an arrangement for Lawrence Welk. The Schoenberg is unnaturally recorded, with the sections of the orchestra actually moved into new seating arrangements for each variation. Plus, a bothersome pre-echo is noticeable throughout. As for Berg's Three Pieces for Orchestra, even renowned critic and Karajan fan Richard Osborne admits the performance is "perhaps too free a paraphrase of Berg's text." Paraphrase? Of music so exact, so precise? If you think this is what Berg's Three Pieces is supposed to sound like, please listen to Abbado or Boulez or Michael Gielen instead.

Superlative recordings of innovative yet inspired music!.......2007-03-14

It helps with this recording (brilliantly done by Deutsche-Grammophon Gesellschaft) that the ensemble are no less than the grand Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of the late Herbert von Karajan!!!

The music-making and obvious commitment of everybody to this music is what throughout carries the day with what at times is downright-FORBIDDING music!! [Particularly here apparently-begging for a severe citation are the Schoenberg Variations of Opus 31 - at times {notably the end} it sounds as if the composer was really out to drive people away! I apologise for being so harsh (maybe on repeated listenings this music yet may win me over the way the Webern Op.1 and the Berg Op.6 have), but that's the way yours truly feels as of now...] Still, Karajan has managed to pierce through to the essence thereof and conveys its inspiration, textures, polyphony, melodic fragments, etc. with obvious love! No less important are the glorious sonorities with which the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra endows these pieces (and which helps in getting the messages of these pieces across all the more readily!) - surely the composers would have been more than pleased!

Most certainly much of this music is almost impossible to digest on one hearing for practically everybody (with the Berg Op.6 and the Webern Op.1 {the latter still tonal, which helps!} being the most accessible of all). It requires several hearings (for some no doubt MANY repeated trials!) before its secrets will finally come to the fore - and most certainly there is NO other recording of these works that humanises and beautifies (yet without cheating via changing of any notes, rhythms, dynamics, etc.!) these masterpieces!!! An absolute must for all Modernist-music lovers as well as for all musicians (in fact, it's a must for ALL who have ears to hear!)! Five stars out of five - and then some!

sold enough copies to equal the height of the eiffel tower.......2006-06-02

This celebrated boxed set must've been something of a milestone when it was first released in the early seventies,bringing this marvellous music to a wider audience.Karajan boasted that it quickly sold enough copies to equal the height of the Eiffel Tower.
Ok,Karajan may not have been the greatest of intellects but instinct can go a long way, and he seems very well attuned to the Second Viennese School (unlike Stravinsky/Bartok which seemed a mismatch) whether it's the glacial pianissimos of Webern's 6 Orchestral Pieces or the grim premonitions of Berg's 3 Orchestral Pieces.Certainly,i don't detect any superficial gloss or smoothing out of the textures.
Strongly recommended,even if you normally give atonal music a wide berth.

It's not the Beatles, It's Modern Mania courtesy of Karajan.......2005-12-18

People love to hate Serialism and they have good reason for doing so. Serialism forced classical music into a backwater that it's been trying to get out of for decades. Minimalism, electronic music, neo-romanticism have all had their relative success but the prevailing mood of thought is still that modern music must inherently be dissonant and repugnant to human ears.
People of more populist, mainstream musical thought don't even consider these kind of compositions, on this CD, music at all. That's sad for them but it's also sad for modern music connoisseurs to still advocate serial methods in the 21st century, which is totally false and laughable, even Schoenberg would be bored by now. We have to understand that Webern perfected the 12 tone method and beyond him composers should find their own voices, get rid of that straightjacket.

I have misgivings about Arvo Part, John Adams and others, but at least they tried and are still trying to give classical music, aka real music, relevancy in an age of Britney Spears and Ludacris. The Second Viennese School practically succeeded in making real music irrelevant to the public. Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Bartok, Stravinsky and R. Strauss kept the torch of real art alive in the 20th century, an age of musical manifestos and authoritarian blowhards like Pierre Boulez.

Nonetheless, let's judge the works on this CD for what they are, an exploration of music into new, mostly uncharted waters.
Webern's Passacaglia, op.1 is an amazing work. This was Karajan's favorite work of the Second Vienna School, I believe, and he gives it the kind of shock power and resonance I did not find in the cool headed approach by Boulez. Great music for horror films, right? Of course this applies to all the works on this disc. Berg's Lyric Suite evokes dark hallways, corridors of suspense, eerie graveyards. Film composers have been ripping off modern composers for ages you know. The Three Pieces for Orchestra are awesome under Karajan, especially that quasi-Mahlerian march of the last movement. It's the craziest, most difficult work written by this trio of composers. The final work is the Variations for Orchestra by Schoenberg, a work that has fascinated Karajan for sometime. The liner notes state that Karajan reseated the orchestra for every variation to get the right sound, clarity and balance that this rigid music requires. A reviewer below states that clarity is sometimes obscured throughout. Perhaps he's right, if he likes the reductionist approach of Boulez, feel free to get that. However Karajan seems to interpret these works as more than just intellectual exercises. We all know that Schoenberg and Berg were die-hard late Romantics who cloathed themselves in modernist garb, they are still infected by Wagner, Brahms, Mahler and Strauss, whether they like to admit it ( in the case of Mahler ) or not. Even Anton Webern, who later went on to develop his tiny micro-universes, still had trace matter of the late romantic temperment. So, is it so wrong for Karajan to perhaps expose these undercurrents more readily than other conductors? Karajan can be just as icy as Boulez but Boulez can never be as warm as Karajan which in my mind makes Karajan an infinitely greater conductor because of his more expansive view of musical interpretation.

This CD should be part of your collection, fascinating but difficult works of music, great sound, the best orchestra in the world, led by one of a kind conductor.

A seductive invitation to the Second Viennese School.......2005-11-24

One of the pleasures of this superb collection is that an untutored listener can start with the first item, Webern's Passacaglia Op. 1, and feel more or less at home with its familiar post-Mahler idiom. Then by stages Karajan leads our ears deeper into the revolutionary heart of the Second Viennese School.

For me the apex of enjoyment was the central work, Berg's Three Pieces, which here are performed with all the richness and impact of Mahler. My ear can't follow Berg's 12-tone argument, but I am riveted by his overwhelming grip on emotion and drama. The music is harder to listen to than Wozzeck but is cut from the same Expressionist cloth. Finally, I was faced with the least accessible work, Schoenberg's Variations, but by that time the atonal world didn't sound so eerie or aggressively foreign and I could derive pleasure from surrendering to one of the most amazing sound worlds any composer has ever imagined. Superb sonics, by the way, to go with the high-voltage, totally committed performances.

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Webern: Works for String Quartet
Artis Quartett
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000DSGB
Release Date: 1992-06-02

Webern: Complete Works for String Quartet

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Webern: Complete Works for String Quartet

Manufacturer: MD&G Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000021F5
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

Complete Works For String Quartet: String Quartet (1905)
Complete Works For String Quartet: Slow Movement For String Quartet (June 1905)
Complete Works For String Quartet: Rondo For String Quartet (1906)
Complete Works For String Quartet: Quintet For Strings And Piano (1907) C major
Complete Works For String Quartet: Five Movements For String Quartet Op. 5 (1909) Heftig bewegt
Complete Works For String Quartet: Five Movements For String Quartet Op. 5 (1909) - Sehr langsam
Complete Works For String Quartet: Five Movements For String Quartet Op. 5 (1909) - Sehr bewegt
Complete Works For String Quartet: Five Movements For String Quartet Op. 5 (1909) - Sehr langsam
Complete Works For String Quartet: Five Movements For String Quartet Op. 5 (1909) - In zarter Bewegung
Complete Works For String Quartet: Six Bagatelles For String Quartet Op. 9 - Mg
Complete Works For String Quartet: Six Bagatelles For String Quartet Op. 9 - Leicht bewegt
Complete Works For String Quartet: Six Bagatelles For String Quartet Op. 9 - Ziemlich fliend
Complete Works For String Quartet: Six Bagatelles For String Quartet Op. 9 - Sehr langsam
Complete Works For String Quartet: Six Bagatelles For String Quartet Op. 9 - rst langsam
Complete Works For String Quartet: Six Bagatelles For String Quartet Op. 9 - Fliend
Complete Works For String Quartet: String Quartet Op. 28 (1937/1938) - Mg
Complete Works For String Quartet: String Quartet Op. 28 (1937/1938) - Gemlich
Complete Works For String Quartet: String Quartet Op. 28 (1937/1938) - Sehr fliend

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Encore!

Manufacturer: Claves
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000025VVD
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

Navarra
Chanson Triste
Flight Of The Bumblebee
Elegy
Scherzo in c, Op.42/2
Happy Birthday
Barcarole ('June' From The 'Seasons')
Vivace
Crisantemi
Turkish March (arr. J. 'Red' McLead)
Sehr Lebhaft (From Funf Stucke, Op.5)
Quartettsatz in c
Elegy
Caprice in a
Poem
KREMLIN at Carnegie (After W. Zinn's Arr. Of 'Crawdad')
Allegretto (From Son No.5)
Elegy (In Memory Of I. Samarin)
Andante Con Moto (From Ste)

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Rubin Quartet: Works for String Quartet

Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000J3FBLG
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

I. Andante Ed Innocentemente
II. Menuetto: Allegretto
III. Adagio E Cantabile
IV. Finale: Presto
I. Anime Et Tres Decide
II. Assez Vif Et Bien Rythme
III. Andantino, Doucement Expressif
IV. Tres Modere
Massig. Leicht Bewegt. Ziemlich Fliessend. Sehr Langsam. Ausserst Langsam. Fliessend.
Nacht Und Nacht

Album Description

The repertoire of this CD is intended to give an example of the skills of the Rubin Quartet while still demonstrating their expertise in as many different stylistic areas as possible. After three familiar works from the Classical, Late Romantic, and Second Viennese schools, this CD ends with a piece by the contemporary composer Jean-Christophe Feldhandler (b. 1962), in which notes, extent, dynamic, development, even symmetry come into their own. It was written as the first part of a trilogy (with differently arranged parts) and was first performed on the occasion of the 1994 Festival in Nancy by the Rubin Quartet (to whom it is also dedicated). When founding the Rubin Quartet in 1992, four female musicians from Cologne, Paris, and Amsterdam had in mind the ruby, the key to all hearts. Since then, playing in the quartet has been the center of their lives and their work has produced a widely varied range of concerts, awards, and CD recordings.