Progetto Martha Argerich

italiano

Works

Anton Webern

Variazioni op. 27

 

Anton Webern’s motto throughout his lifetime was Non multa, sed multum, which may freely be translated as “Not many works, but highly significant ones.” Webern’s oeuvre is uniquely small both numerically (only 31 opus numbers in all) and in terms of each composition’s length (a recording of the Austrian composer’s complete works occupies precisely three CDs). In particular, Webern dedicated only one composition – the Variations, Op. 27 – to the piano. Begun in October 1935 and completed in September 1936, the piece was dedicated to the pianist Eduard Steuermann, well known at the time for his efforts on behalf of new music. Despite its title, Op. 27 actually consists of three separate, very short movements (Sehr mässig – Sehr schnell – Ruhig fliessend) that last a total of about six minutes; through them, Webern seems to put into practice the “continuous variation” principle that was so dear to the aesthetic of Arnold Schoenberg.

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