Brief synopsis' of the most popular
classical music
compositions by
Josef Anton Bruckner...
Austrian, Ansfelden
4 SEP
1824 ~ Vienna, 11 OCT 1896
9 Symphonies, 3 Masses, String Quartets, Orchestral and Choral Works
Bruckner Christus Factus Est
from an original choral work by Bruckner.
Bruckner Sym No 0
Anton Bruckner distroyed many of his youthful works. His early Sym in d
minor was a manuscript that escaped that fate and was published after his
death in 1896, as number zero in d minor.
Bruckner Sym No 1
(in c)(Known as the Linz version) Published, as the 1st Sym, but it was
the third product in the symphonic
form by the Austrian composer and organist. Anton Bruckner was born on
September 4th 1824. He is noted for his lengthy symphonies. The first
in c minor, was written after his 40th birthday. Completed in April of
1866
and FP in May of 1868. There was a revised edition prepared in Vienna in
1890.
Bruckner Sym No 2 in c minor
In its' final form, the sym was published after three revisions in 1877.
The FP of the first version was in Vienna on October 26th, 1873.
Bruckner Sym No 3 in d minor
FP Dec 1877 under Bruckner. Not too well received by the audience. Many
left before it was over. Many orchestra members even left the stage before
Bruckner could take a bow. He tinkered with the score for many years but
Leopold Novak revised the score in 1889 from what Bruckner left a year
earlier. The third revised version was FP in Vienna in December of 1890.
Critics note it is an assertive work and elaborately scored.
Bruckner Sym
No 4 in E flat
major, Romantic The only Bruckner symphony with a title.
He started this work when he was 49 years old, in 1873-74. There were some
revisions in 1874 and 1881. There were later publication tamperings and an
edition by Leopold Novak, who restored the work and worked on Bruckner's
dramatic ending which was arranged for conductor Anton Seidl.
FP in Vienna in 1881, but conducted by Hans Richter. After another
revision the first printed edition came out in Vienna in 1889.
The
movements of the piece suggest the mood of a medieval city...knights
riding into the countryside, forest noices and bird songs...the hunting of
the hare and a festival.
Bruckner Sym
No 5 in B flat
major
Written in 1877 and revised in 1878 and FP on April 8th, 1894.
Bruckner never heard this symphony performed. Many cuts have been made
with reorchestration including an extra brass section. In recent years the
work has been performed as the composer intended.
Bruckner Sym
No 6 in A major Perhaps the most neglected of the Bruckner
symphonies. This the shortest of his mammothly long symphonic works.
Finished in 1881 when the composer was in his 57th year. FP in Vienna in
February of 1883.
Bruckner Sym
No 7 in E major
This sym won wide praise and acceptance throughout Europe and the United
States. The dirge like second MMT was a memorial to Wagner and very
popular.
Wagner died during the period it was being composed.
One of the classic performances on record is in the Columbia
catalog (Sony) by Bruno Walter, just before his death.
Bruckner Sym
No 8 in C minor
Composed in 1884-90. FP in Vienna December 18, 1892 under Hans Richter.
Many musicians called it an unperformable monstrosity. He redrafted the
score in 1889-90. There are two contemporary versions of the work. One
edited by Haas and the other by Novak. There is only a 50 bar difference in
the two, in the final movement.
Bruckner Sym
No 9 in d
Anton Bruckner was born on September 4, 1824 in Austria. He died in Vienna
on October 11, 1896. The composer and organist wrote nine symphonies. Excluding a youthful work found after his death known as Sym Zero.
The
last, known as the Ninths, was not completed at his death, but most critics agree to its'
completeness as it is. Bruckner dedicated the sym "to my Dear God", thus
the ending is an adagio concluding the third MMT...in a mood of peace and
tranquility. FP in Vienna February - 1903.
Musicologist Deryck Cooke notes the turmoil, perplexity and pain in
the music, but at its' core is the unshaken faith of a deeply religious
man which eventually finds his peace in the conclusion of the work.
Bruckner Te Deum
Bruckner began working on his 'Te Deum' in 1881. It was first heard in May
1885 with two pianos... and later with full orchestra in 1886.
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