Canon
Where to start with Webern
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralPassacaglia, op. 1
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ChamberString Quartet, op. 28
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KeyboardVariations, op. 27
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Vocal2 Songs, for chorus, clarinet, bass clarinet, celesta, guitar and violin, op. 19
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Orchestral5 Pieces, op. 10
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OrchestralSymphony, op. 21
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Chamber2 Pieces, for cello and piano
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Vocal2 Songs, for soprano and ensemble, op. 8
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Vocal3 Gedichte
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Chamber3 Pieces
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Vocal3 Poems
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Vocal3 Songs from 'Viae inviae', op. 23
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Vocal3 Songs, for soprano and orchestra
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Vocal3 Songs, for soprano, Eb clarinet and guitar, op. 18
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Vocal3 Songs, op. 25
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Webern's catalogueMost Popular
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Five Movements for String Quartet, Op. 5
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Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6
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Passacaglia, Op. 1
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Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 7
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Three Songs from ”Der siebente Ring”, Op. 3
Most Acclaimed
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Symphony, Op. 219 minutes complete — the most compressed symphony ever written
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Variations for Piano, Op. 27
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String Quartet, Op. 28
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Concerto for Nine Instruments, Op. 24
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Variations for Orchestra, Op. 30
Most Weird
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Bagatelles for String Quartet, Op. 96 pieces, total duration 3 minutes
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Three Small Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op. 11
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Five Canons, Op. 16
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Das Augenlicht, Op. 26choral — texture like looking through frosted glass
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Two Songs, Op. 19his most stripped-down vocal writing
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 53
- Orchestral
- ● Passacaglia, op. 1
- 5 Pieces, op. 10
- Symphony, op. 21
- 5 Movements, op. 5
- 5 Pieces, op. posth.
- 6 Pieces, op. 6
- Concerto for 9 instruments, op. 24
- Im Sommerwind
- Variations, op. 30
- Chamber
- String Quartet, op. 28
- 2 Pieces, for cello and piano
- 3 Pieces
- 4 Pieces, for violin and piano, op. 7
- 5 Movements, op. 5
- 6 Bagatelles, op. 9
- Cello Sonata
- Langsamer Satz, for string quartet
- Little Pieces, for cello and piano, op. 11
- Movement for string trio, op. posth
- Piano Quintet
- Quartet, for clarinet, saxophone, piano and violin, op. 22
- Rondo for String Quartet
- Slow Movement, for string quartet
- String Quartet
- String Trio movement
- String Trio, op. 20
- Keyboard
- Variations, op. 27
- Children's Piece
- Kinderstück, op. posth.
- Movement
- Sonatasatz
- Vocal
- 2 Songs, for chorus, clarinet, bass clarinet, celesta, guitar and violin, op. 19
- 2 Songs, for soprano and ensemble, op. 8
- 3 Gedichte
- 3 Poems
- 3 Songs from 'Viae inviae', op. 23
- 3 Songs, for soprano and orchestra
- 3 Songs, for soprano, Eb clarinet and guitar, op. 18
- 3 Songs, op. 25
- 3 Traditional Rhymes, for soprano and ensemble, op. 17
- 4 Songs, for soprano and orchestra, op. 13
- 4 Songs, op. 12
- 5 Canons on Latin Texts, for voice, clarinet and bass clarinet, op. 16
- 5 Lieder nach Gedichten von Stefan George, op. 4
- 5 Sacred Songs, for soprano and ensemble, op. 15
- 5 Songs from Der siebente Ring, op. 3
- 6 Songs, for soprano and ensemble, op. 14
- 8 Early Songs
- Cantata no. 1, op. 29
- Cantata no. 2, op. 31
- Das Augenlicht, op. 26
- Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen, op. 2
- Schmerz immer, Blick nach oben, for voice and string quartet