Alban Berg (1185-1935) is often thought of as the most lyrical composer of the Second Viennese School, an early proponent of serialism, but less strict in his application of the technique than either his teacher Schoenberg or his fellow student Webern.  Berg was a modernist, in his use of atonality, while remaining a Romantic, in his incredible command of melody and flair for drama.  Though he did not always adhere strictly to Schoenberg’s 12-tone system, his own methods of structuring and organizing his atonal compositions, later scholars have noted, contained incredible sophistication, albeit different from Schoenberg’s method.

Like Webern, Berg published relatively few works during his lifetime, completing only six with opus numbers, in addition several songs and smaller pieces without. As a modern opera composer in particular, the author of Wozzeck and the unfinished Lulu, Berg was unrivaled; his first opera, Wozzeck, is additionally distinguished by its standing as the first, full-length atonal opera, as Lulu was to be the first, full-length 12-tone opera.  Berg also wrote noteworthy orchestral pieces, including the Lyrische Suite and the Kammerkonzert as well as several songs and chamber music works.