Anton Bruckner (1824 - 1896) was an Austrian composer and organist best known for his symphonies and sacred music. The symphonies are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner's compositions helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and roving harmonies. They are also noted for existing in many different versions, which can elad to quite some confusion for the novice.
As with all posts dedicated to one composer, I will select my 12
favourite works, listed in chronological order. All depicted CD's are
from my own collection. Text is sometimes copied from the Wikipedia
entries.
Requiem (1849)
The Requiem in D minor is a setting of the Missa pro defunctis for mixed choir, vocal soloists, three trombones, one horn, strings and organ with figured bass. It was composed in memory of Franz Sailer, the notary of the St. Florian Monastery. A very early work, and no match for the more famous Requiems, this is still a delight to listen to. The version shown above is by the Corydon Singers and English Chamber Orchestra under Matthew Best, featuring Michael George, Catherine Denley, Joan Rodgers and Maldwyn Davies, on Hyperion.
String Quartet (1862)
The String Quartet in C minor was composed during his tuition by Otto Kitzler. It is of course an early work (even though the composer was already 38), but it is a delightful quartet, which makes one wonder what if... he had focused less on symphonies and more on chamber music. Of course we'll never know. The version shown above is by the
Fine Arts Quartet on Naxos.
Symphony No. 2 (1872)
Symphony No. 2 in C minor, sometimes known as the "Symphony of Pauses", was actually the fourth symphony composed by Bruckner, after the Symphony in F minor "00" (1863), the Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1866), and the Symphony in D minor "0" (1869). It is the only numbered Bruckner symphony without a dedication. The version shown above is from the complete symphonies box by the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken under Stanislaw Skrowaczewski on Oehms Classics.
Symphony No. 3 (1873)
Symphony No. 3 in D minor,was dedicated to Richard Wagner and is sometimes known as his "Wagner Symphony". According to one critic, the third symphony "opens the sequence of Bruckner's masterpieces, in which his creativity meets monumental ability of symphonic construction." The work is notorious as the most-revised of Bruckner's symphonies, and there exist no fewer than six versions, with three of them being widely performed today. The version shown above is from the complete symphonies box by the
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg under Simone Young on
Oehms Classics.
Symphony No. 4 (1874)
Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major was dedicated to Prince Konstantin of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. The symphony's nickname of Romantic was used by the composer himself. It is generally seen as one of his most accessible symphonies and therefore a good stepping stone in the world of Bruckner. The version shown above is from the complete symphonies box by the
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Riccardo Chailly on Decca.
Symphony No. 5 (1876)
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major came at a time of trouble and disillusion for the composer: a lawsuit, from which he was exonerated, and a reduction in salary. It was sedicated to Karl von Stremayr, education minister in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bruckner himself referred to it as the "Fantastic" without applying this or any other name formally. Of the famous seven (symphonies 3-9), this is my least favourite, but still a very good work. The version shown above is by the
Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Georg Tintner on Naxos.
String Quintet (1879)
String Quintet in F major is the only chamber music Bruckner composed after he had become an established symphonist. Bruckner's superior Joseph Hellmesberger Sr. requested Bruckner for a string quartet. Instead, Bruckner composed a viola quintet. He dedicated the Quintet to Duke Max Emanuel of Bavaria. After the Brahms and Dvorak masterpieces, this is my favourite string quintet of the 19th century. The version shown above is by the
Vienna Philharmonia Quintet on Decca.
Symphony No. 6 (1881)
Symphony No. 6 in A major was dedicated to his landlord, Anton van Ölzelt-Newin. Only two movements from it were performed in public in the composer's lifetime. Though it possesses many characteristic features of a Bruckner symphony, it differs the most from the rest of his symphonic repertory. It is not commonly performed and often thought of as the ugly duckling of Bruckner's symphonic body of work. Personally, I like it a lot. The version shown above is by the
Berliner Philharmoniker under Herbert von Karajan on Deutsche Grammophon.
Symphony No. 7 (1883)
Symphony No. 7 in E major is dedicated to Ludwig II of Bavaria. The first two movements are for me among the best he composed. It is generally accepted as one of his very best works. The version shown above is from the complete symphonies box by the
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden Und Freiburg under Michael Gielen on SWR Music.
Te Deum (1884)
The Te Deum in C major is a setting of the Te Deum hymn for SATB choir and soloists, orchestra, and organ ad libitum. The composer dedicated the piece A.M.D.G. "in gratitude for having safely brought me through so much anguish in Vienna." It is generally accepted as his best work among his Sacred choral music. The version shown above is by the Corydon Singers and Corydon Orchestra under Matthew Best, featuring Joan Rodgers, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Keith Lewis andAlastair Miles, on a Hyperion CD.
Symphony No. 8 (1887)
Symphony No. 8 in C minor is the last symphony the composer completed. It is dedicated to the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. This symphony is sometimes nicknamed The Apocalyptic, but this was not a name Bruckner gave to the work himself. A brilliant work, often cited as his best, but as good as it is, I think his ninth is even better. The version shown above is by the
Wiener Philharmoniker under Pierre Boulez on Deutsche Grammophon.
Symphony No. 9 (1896)
Symphony No. 9 in D minor is the last symphony on which Anton Bruckner worked, leaving the last movement incomplete at the time of his death in 1896; Bruckner dedicated it "to the beloved God" (in German, dem lieben Gott). Although attempts have been made to create a fourth movement based on Bruckner's sketches, I think the work is perfect as it is, in three movement ending with the gorgeous adagio. After Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, this is my favourite symphony. The version shown above is by the
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Bernard Haitink on Philips.
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