This book offers a comprehensive study of Webern's life, influences, and music, charting his significance as a pioneering figure in modern music. Kolneder, a respected musicologist and director of the Badische Hochschule für Musik, Karlsruhe, presents Webern not only as an avant-garde composer but also as a figure deeply rooted in musical tradition. This book, rooted in Kolneder's lectures and talks, covers Webern's complete body of work, provides biographical context, and examines his stylistic evolution and influence on younger generations of composers.

Kolneder aims to counteract myths surrounding Webern, using personal accounts and Webern's own letters to paint an accurate picture of him as both an artist and individual. The book further includes an analysis of Webern's unique twelve-tone technique, his innovations in musical structure, and his distinctive emphasis on concise, transparent textures. Kolneder also addresses Webern's polarizing reputation, contrasting Stravinsky's praise of Webern's "dazzling diamonds" with critics who saw his work as incomprehensible or overly intellectual.

Kolneder argues that understanding Webern's music requires an immersive study of his works, emphasizing both the analysis of scores and listening to recordings. The book advocates for a balanced perspective that acknowledges both Webern's revolutionary techniques and his grounding in musical traditions, showing how his legacy as a "father of modern music" has inspired subsequent generations to explore new realms of musical expression.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1968.