Dedicated to Dr. Norbert Schwarzmann, patron of the Second Viennese School, the Op. 13 songs are among Webern's most substantial works. They are relatively long (by Webern's standards), and are orchestrated for a large ensemble, consisting of 13 instruments in various combinations: flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, horn, trumpet, trombone, celesta, harp, glockenspiel, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The texts of the songs are poems by Georg Trakl, Li Tai Po, Wong Seng Yu, and Karl Krauss. The songs are highly expressive, and characterized by their dense, linear textures, the wide ranging vocal lines, and the soloistic use of the ensemble instruments. Webern also employs word painting in these expressionistic songs, which are linked through the content of their texts. The Op. 13 songs are part of a large group of songs written between 1914 - 1922, and represent Webern's almost compulsive return to the song genre whenever he was having difficulty writing instrumental works.

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