Wir wissen, was wir zu leisten imstande sind

For a long time, the bourgeoisie had a virtual monopoly on the high art of music, but from the beginning of the 19th century, the working class also began to join together in musical societies. By the time of Red Vienna in the 1920s and 1930s, at the latest, the poletariat had also emancipated itself musically. The works of Gustav Mahler were performed by the workers' singers as well as those of Anton Webern or Arnold Schönberg. David Josef Bach played an important role in this with his Social Democratic Arts Office and the Workers' Symphony Concerts. Despite great successes, however, he also had to contend with - external and also internal - resistance. What remains of the workers' music movement of the interwar period? What were its distinguishing features? Here is an attempt at an answer.