Together with Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg, with whom he formed the Second Viennese School, Webern laid the foundation for a large part of 20th-century music. Yet, he did so in a completely unique way. Whereas Berg was still largely influenced by the Romantic Period, and Schoenberg was a true expressionist, Webern took a more adventurous path. Of course, his music was just as atonal as the music of his peers, but he turned away from the classical-romantic tradition in many more ways.

Generally, his pieces are short works written for small ensembles. Above all, his works sound empty. Webern became a man of miniatures, of which his Variations for piano op. 27 are his best-known examples. Moreover, in his rigid music he is strongly influenced by medieval music, preceding composers such as Arvo Pärt. However, Webern's music is not as warm as Pärt's music, but colder and more distant. Webern creates a truly unique and new musical universe, which is why his is music is still exciting today.