Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen, Op. 2

Anton Webern’s Op. 2, Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen, is a four-part setting for unaccompanied SATB voices. The music immediately draws the listener into a world of rapid motion and delicate textures, mirroring the "light skiffs" of the opening line. Webern’s intricate part-writing creates a shimmering, often impressionistic sound-world where the voices weave together with remarkable agility. The German text speaks of fleeing into intoxicating, sunlit worlds, yet hints at a "quiet sorrow" that fills the spring. The composer’s masterful handling of the ensemble allows the words and music to coalesce, creating a deeply evocative and impressionistic sonic experience.