Anton Webern Critical Edition

We are very pleased to present to you the long-awaited historical-critical complete edition of Anton Webern's works (AWG), which will be published continuously from 2024 with approximately two volumes per year. This edition dedicated to the important representative of the Second Viennese School has long been a desideratum and is aimed at scholars and musicians alike. It presents a comprehensive publication of his entire oeuvre based on the latest research: In addition to the 31 opus works, which include music-historical milestones such as the Sechs Stücke für großes Orchester op. 6, the Sechs Bagatellen für Streichquartett op. 9 and the Klaviervariationen op. 27, numerous previously unknown versions of these opus works, posthumous trouvailles, study compositions published for the first time from Arnold Schönberg's teaching period and selected sketch materials are also edited.

Taking into account the state of preservation of the sources relevant to the edition complexes and with a view to different potential uses, the AWG distinguishes between three different forms of edition:

Work editions for compositions that were published in print or intended for print during Webern's lifetime

Text editions for versions that go beyond a mere 'sketch' but were not clearly finalised in the sense of a work published in print

Sketch editions for sketches and drafts

The AWG is published in mutually complementary and interlinked media: on the one hand as a print edition and on the other as an openly accessible online edition. The volumes of the print edition contain an introduction on the genesis of the compositions, the edited musical texts as work editions or text editions and a substantial text-critical excerpt from the Critical Report. The introductions, text editions and sketch editions are also presented in the online edition. The complete Critical Reports, in particular with the detailed source descriptions omitted in the print edition, also appear online.

The complete edition is divided into three series (I-III), each with five sections (1-5): 11 volumes appear in print:

Series I Works with opus numbers

AWG I/1 Orchestral music

AWG I/2 Chamber and piano music

AWG I/3 Choral music

AWG I/4 Vocal music with ensemble accompaniment

AWG I/5 Piano songs

Series II Posthumous compositions and fragments

AWG II/1 Orchestral music

AWG II/2a Chamber and piano music: Piano music

AWG II/2b Chamber and piano music: chamber music

AWG II/5 Piano songs

Series III Arrangements of works by other composers

AWG III/1-2 Instrumental music

AWG III/3-5 Vocal music

Only online editions are planned for the AWG II/3 and AWG II/4 sections. Each volume offers a well-founded introduction to the compositions included as well as a concise Critical Report, which provides information on the most important editorial interventions and problems.

These volumes are significantly supplemented and expanded by the online edition which presents exclusive sketch editions, and detailed critical reports and is part of an online platform that also offers extensive contextual information on Anton Webern's life, work history, reception, and correspondence.

See the AWG project page

The AWG is produced at the Musicology Department of the University of Basel in close cooperation with the Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel, where the majority of Webern's surviving sources are kept. The printed volumes are published exclusively by Universal Edition and can be ordered individually or as a subscription to the complete edition.

If you have any questions or are interested in a subscription, please contact us at

music@universaledition.com.

The following volumes have been published up to now:

Series I Works with opus numbers

UE 35705 AWG I/5 Piano songs

We present the first volume of the long-awaited historical-critical Anton Webern Complete Edition! It is aimed at scholars and musicians alike and presents a comprehensive publication of the entire oeuvre based on the latest research: In addition to the 31 opus works, which include music-historical milestones such as the Six Pieces for Large Orchestra op. 6, the Six Bagatelles for String Quartet op. 9 and the Piano Variations op. 27, previously unknown versions of these opus works, posthumous trouvailles, study compositions published for the first time and selected sketch material are also edited. This volume is dedicated to the piano songs.

£ 149.99 | $ 209.95 within the subscription

£ 229.99 | $ 319.95 retail sale