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After a cheerful family dinner on the evening of 15 September 1945, Anton Webern<\/a> was enjoying a cigar in the cool air on the steps of his refuge in the peaceful town of Mittersill when he was shot. The family dinner and cigar had been a rare treat for the Austrian composer, who had spent the past years in Nazi-led, war-torn Vienna. <\/strong><\/p> The cigar was a gift from his son-in-law Benno Mattel, who led a thriving black market operation. As Webern stepped outside to avoid cigar smoke disturbing his grandchildren, Mattel received two Americans inside to complete some pre-arranged business. Three drinks later, the visitors drew revolvers.<\/p> They were not black-market business colleagues but US soldiers, on a mission to expose Mattel\u2019s illegal endeavours. Mattel was immediately placed under arrest. At this point, one of the Americans, a company cook from North Carolina named Raymond Bell, rushed out of the house. He passed Webern on the steps. Inexplicably, he fired three shots, hitting the composer.<\/p> Webern stumbled inside shouting for help and was laid down on a mattress by his wife, Wilhelmine, and daughter, Christine. He quietly murmured \u2018Es ist aus\u2019 (\u2018It is over\u2019). By the time medical help arrived, he was dead, aged 61.<\/p> It is unclear why Bell shot an innocent man, peacefully smoking. Was it self-defence or an accident? The incident remained a mystery, and haunted Bell throughout his life. He returned to the US and died an alcoholic in September 1955. Mattel was arrested and spent one year in prison.<\/p> The shooting was a brisk end for a remarkable composer, who had reason to believe that peacetime could bring him the professorship and major conducting position which the Nazi regime had denied. Stravinsky<\/a><\/strong> had praised Webern\u2019s compositions as \u2018dazzling diamonds\u2019; for Schoenberg<\/a><\/strong> they were \u2018a joy in a breath\u2019. His serialism<\/a><\/strong>, 12-note theory and atonality would enjoy success after 1950, when he was considered a father of \u2018new music\u2019.<\/p> Inexplicably, he fired three shots, hitting the composer<\/h3>
Who was Anton Webern?<\/h2>