WEBERN, ANTON VON ), Austrian com poser, was born in Vienna on Dec. 3, 1883. He studied at Vienna university, taking the degree of Ph.D. in musicology, and was one of the first disciples of Schonberg, whose principles he has adopted in his own works. In concentration and intensity he even exceeds Schonberg, and the fragmentariness and almost complete absence of tangible Melody or effective rhythm in his later compositions deprives them of any but an intellectual appeal. A characteristic
feature is his use of pianissimo.
His works include: A two string quartet op. 5 and 9 ; Pieces for violin and piano op. 7 ; Passacaglia and five Pieces, op. 5, for orchestra ; Geistliche Lieder for soprano with 5 instr., op. 16; and a string trio (1928). See Paul Stefan, Neue Musik und Wien.