Bruckner, Anton

March 1, 2021, 7:00 pm

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The latest installment in our series of composer biographies presents the 19th century Austrian titan Anton Bruckner. We’ll explore his work and his life, from his childhood in a small farming village outside Linz to his final decades in Vienna. Bruckner was a devoted Roman Catholic who spent years as a chorister at the Monastery of St. Florian, and later served as the cathedral organist in Linz, where he established a reputation for his improvisatory skills. He composed dozens of choral settings of masses, requiems, psalms, and a Te Deum, in addition to his nine symphonies, plus numerous sketches and revisions. Lots of revisions! But Bruckner worked during a period of changing musical tastes and styles, and while his music was indebted to the traditions of Schubert and Beethoven, he increasingly was drawn to the “new” music of Wagner and Liszt. He was often dragged into the wrong side of critical debates on the evolving course of music, and in his lifetime his status never rose to the level it has today. Join us as we explore his works from new perspectives, and consider for yourself Bruckner’s place in the classical music canon.

Playlist

Episode 1

Bruckner, Anton: Adagio from String Quintet in F Major (excerpt)
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Vladimir Ashkenazy
String Quintet in F Major
Ondine 920-2
16:10

Bruckner, Anton: Pange Lingua, WAB 33, “Tantum Ergo”
Dresdner Kreuzchor/ Martin Flamig
Ave Maria – Bruckner Motets
Capriccio 10081
6:00

Bruckner, Anton: Tantum Ergo- Lento, Solenne, Poco Adagio
Pittsburgh Symphony Low Brass Section
Performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony Low Brass Section
Albany TR 1003
4:57

Bruckner, Anton: Adagio from String Quintet in F Major
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Vladimir Ashkenazy
String Quintet in F Major
Ondine 920-2
16:02

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony in F Minor – I
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Vladimir Ashkenazy
String Quintet in F Major – Symphony No. 1
Ondine 920-2
16:10

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony in F Minor – III. Scherzo
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Vladimir Ashkenazy
String Quintet in F Major – Symphony No. 1
Ondine 920-2
5:24

Episode 2

Bruckner, Anton: Mass No. 3 in F Minor: Sanctus (excerpt)
Symphonieorchester Der Bayerischen Rundfunks/Eugen Jochum
Bruckner: Masses Nos 1-3
DG 4796367
1:30

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor – I. Ziemlich Schnell (excerpt)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
Bruckner: Symphony No. 2
London 436154-1
00:40

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor – I. Ziemlich Schnell (excerpt)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
Bruckner: Symphony No. 2
London 436154-1
19:35

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 3 in D, “Wagner Symphony” – I. Gemassight, mehr bewegt, misterioso (excerpt)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vanska
Symphony No. 3 in D Minor
Hyperion CDA 67200
00:40

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 3 in D, “Wagner Symphony” –
I. Gemassight, mehr bewegt, misterioso

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vanska
Symphony No. 3 in D Minor
20:42

Bruckner, Anton: Te Deum in C, WAB 45 – IV, V (excerpt)
Westminster Choir; New York Philharmonic/Bruno Walter
Bruckner: Te Deum; Mozart: Requiem
Sony 64480
4:54

Bruckner, Anton: Mass No. 3 in F Minor: Sanctus (excerpt)
Symphonieorchester Der Bayerischen Rundfunks/Eugen Jochum
Bruckner: Masses Nos 1-3
DG 4796367
1:44

Episode 3

Bruckner, Anton: Klavierstuck in E-flat, WAB 119
Fumiko Shiraga, piano
Bruckner: Piano Works
BIS 1297
2:18

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No.4 in E-Flat – I, II, III
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
DG 4317192
19:03

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No.4 in E-Flat – II. (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
DG 4317192
1:06

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No.4 in E-Flat – II.
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
DG 4317192
16:18

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No.4 in E-Flat – III (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
DG 4317192
0:46

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No.4 in E-Flat – III (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
DG 4317192
1:07

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No.4 in E-Flat – III
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in Eb Major ‘Romantic’
DG 4317192
10:26

Episode 4

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 7 in E, WAB 107 – I (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Georg Solti
Bruckner: Symphony No 7
London 436615
1:10

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 7 in E, WAB 107 – I (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Georg Solti
Bruckner: Symphony No 7
London 436615
1:10

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 7 in E, WAB 107 – I
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Georg Solti
Bruckner: Symphony No 7
London 436615
21:18

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 7 in E, WAB 107 – II
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Georg Solti
Bruckner: Symphony No 7
London 436615
25:07

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 7 in E, WAB 107 – II
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Georg Solti
Bruckner: Symphony No 7
London 436615
1:00

Bruckner, Anton: Locus iste
Gebrueder Ohrentaub Tuba Quartet
Bruckner: Symphony No 7
London 436615
3:08

Episode 5


Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 8 in C, WAB 108 – II. Scherzo (excerpt)

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Bruckner: Symphony No 8
DG 445529
01:00

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 8 in C, WAB 108 – II. Scherzo (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Bruckner: Symphony No 8
DG 445529
00:37

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 8 in C, WAB 108 – II. Scherzo
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Bruckner: Symphony No 8
DG 445529
16:25

Bruckner, Anton: Stille Betrachtung An Einem Herbstabend in F-Sharp, WAB 123
Fumiko Shiraga, piano
Bruckner: Piano Works
BIS 1297
4:10

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 9 in D, WAB 109 – III. Adagio (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Bruckner: Symphonie No 9
EMI 5651772
1:00

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 9 in D, WAB 109 – III. Adagio
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Bruckner: Symphonie No 9
EMI 5651772
26:48

Bruckner, Anton: Symphony No. 9 in D, WAB 109 – III. Adagio (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Bruckner: Symphonie No 9
EMI 5651772
2:00