Anton Bruckner -- Happy 200th!

Love Bruckner.

I was first introduced to him when a local classical music station played longer pieces during their “Afternoon Symphony” segments here in Boston. It was the 8th. Just under an hour-and-a-half to perform.

I saw the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra with Benjamin Zander’s perform the 8th at Sanders Theater at Harvard. Wonderful!

Austrian composer Hugo Wolf wrote that Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 was "the work of a giant" and that it "surpasses the other symphonies of the master in intellectual scope, awesomeness, and greatness".
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Wolf was not known as one to withhold a negative opinion either. My first exposure to Bruckner was via Seraphim LPs of the 9th and 3rd symphonies performed by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Carl Schuricht, who's regrettably underrepresented on recordings. Sometimes Bruckner's, well, unsophistication can come through, but the best way to listen is to just sit back and let the music wash over you. And his liturgical pieces, choral especially, deserve more hearing.
 
Oh yes... Anton Bruckner. I love his music...

This year I have had the chance to hear Bruckner's 6th Symphony with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester under Kirill Pretenko in the Kursaal (Donostia). It was an incredible performance, it was a life experience...
 
Born in Ansfelden, to be exact. That's 28 miles away from me as the crow flies. I didn't even know there was a special Leica model. I'm happy that an Austrian composer is so well known. He, too, has become immortal :)
 
Imagine Bruckner getting a guernsey on a photographic forum - that commerative Bruckner M6 the most tenuous of connections. Also love the 8th.
 
KoNickon said:
"Getting a guernsey"?
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Sorry, threw that in for its English, bordering on French, obscurity, and while a potentially correct reference to inclusion, in a football team, inclusion by the analogy of a woollen team upper body uniform is hardly what Bruckner would expect, or likely approve.
 
I must try to appreciate Bruckner's music. It's been one of those musical endeavors that has flown over my head. I'm not immune to imposing or magestic music--I love Mahler, especially his #2 "Resurrection" which brings tears to my eyes--but I've yet to get into Bruckner. Must listen again...closely.
 
Richard G said:
Sorry, threw that in for its English, bordering on French, obscurity, and while a potentially correct reference to inclusion, in a football team, inclusion by the analogy of a woollen team upper body uniform is hardly what Bruckner would expect, or likely approve.
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Oh -- over here we'd use "jersey" -- another Channel Island. So, meaning, getting a guernsey/jersey = getting issued team kit even though you're likely never to play?
 
KoNickon said:
Oh -- over here we'd use "jersey" -- another Channel Island. So, meaning, getting a guernsey/jersey = getting issued team kit even though you're likely never to play?
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I could be wrong, but I associate jersey with rugby, (union...) and guernsey with football (round ball, soccer) It is not that you're never likely to play, it's that you're in. For instance, "He won't get a guernsey with that attitude." Getting the guernsey is good, and complete. On the team. Presumably playing this Saturday.
 
Richard G said:
I could be wrong, but I associate jersey with rugby, (union...) and guernsey with football (round ball, soccer) It is not that you're never likely to play, it's that you're in. For instance, "He won't get a guernsey with that attitude." Getting the guernsey is good, and complete. On the team. Presumably playing this Saturday.
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Never heard the rugby/football (soccer) distinction before. (Where does that leave Alderney? :)) Thanks for that.

I get it -- here we might say "Bruckner made the cut" -- meaning, he made the team and wasn't left off the roster. Comes I think from American football.
 
The Fouth B has always seemed like the cousin we should have invited over more. I had a piano collection the Three B’s when I was first learning piano. Naturally any fourth B was going to struggle to break into a club of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. But on the radio I hear so many more Mahler and Tchaikovsky symphonies, and so much less Shostakovich and Bruckner. Maybe I’ve heard Bruckner once on the radio in twelve months.

Somehow Bruckner never quite makes the cut. (That sporting analogy I always associate with golf, the elimination of players above a certain score from playing the final two rounds. Not inapposite to discussion of Bruckner. Occasionally Rory McIlroy will miss the cut.)
 
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