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Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner

Composer

1824 — 1896
Anton Bruckner is an exceptional figure with deep roots in the church music of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Palestrina. It took Bruckner a long time to settle on composing as a career, with almost all of his works that are performed regularly today being written after he turned 40. He was born in Ansfelden near Linz, Upper Austria, and as a child was encouraged by his cousin, writing his first surviving composition, a setting of the hymn Pange lingua, at the age of 11. Following the death of his father when Bruckner was 12, he was given board and education at the monastery of St Florian, with a thorough grounding in music. His outstanding musical talent secured him the post of organist at Linz Cathedral in 1856, where he remained for 13 years while simultaneously following a correspondence course in counterpoint in Vienna. Only at the age of 39 did Bruckner pronounce himself free to compose as he wished. His horizons quickly broadened and his first major full-length work, the Mass in D Minor, was a success at its Linz premiere in 1864. Following bouts of severe mental crises and obsessional tendencies after creative expansion and success, he began his Mass in F Minor in 1867, composing his way back to health. He became a professor of Harmony at the Vienna Conservatory and moved to the Austrian capital, where he found a few champions, notably the conductor Johann Herbeck. Bruckner was also the organist at the imperial chapel, where he was much admired for his improvisations on the instrument. By contrast, his own compositions, and especially his symphonies, were less warmly received and subjected to repeated attacks by the city's anti-Wagner faction. His music was largely misunderstood and it was many years before it found a regular place for itself in the mainstream repertory. Bruckner was often described as lacking confidence, and there are several stories of him humbly accepting criticism from colleagues and even pupils. Yet he continued in his symphonic vocation, despite frequent humiliation and acute loneliness. For many listeners, it is that strong sense of underlying purpose that makes his music so valuable. With time, the originality and power of Bruckner's music began to be recognised and the tide turned with the premiere of his Seventh Symphony in 1884 in Leipzig. Bruckner gained a strong following in the city, while his reputation continued to grow abroad. His most ambitious project, the Ninth Symphony, dedicated "to dear God" was conceived on a massive scale, meant to culminate in an orchestral "Hymn of Praise". But as Bruckner's health began to fail, his obsessional traits pressed in again and only three of the symphony's four movements were completed by the time of his death 1896.

Composer

1824 – 1896 Anton Bruckner did not have it easy. The Austrian composer was plagued by self-doubt throughout his life. But despite all his insecurities, he left behind an impressive musical legacy that continues to fascinate music lovers worldwide to this day. Born on 4 September 1824 in Ansfelden, a small village near Linz, he grew up in modest circumstances. After the death of his father, he was accepted as a choirboy at St. Florian's Abbey in 1837. There he received his first musical training, particularly on the organ, and developed a deep attachment to church music at an early age. After training as a teacher, he initially worked as a school assistant before devoting himself entirely to music. In addition to his work as an organist, he continued his self-taught training before finally receiving official training in music theory and composition. From 1855 he was the cathedral organist in Linz. Introduced to music theory and instrumentation by Simon Sechter and Otto Kitzler, he discovered Richard Wagner as an artistic role model, whom he admired throughout his life and also visited several times in Bayreuth. This admiration for Wagner meant that Bruckner's music was often considered too ‘modern’ or ‘too bold’ for his time, which not only earned him recognition, but also numerous critics.

Anton Bruckner's path to recognition

In 1868, Anton Bruckner became professor of basso continuo, counterpoint, and organ at the Vienna Conservatory, ten years later court organist and finally, in 1891, an honorary doctorate from the University of Vienna. Although these academic successes earned him respect, his real passion was for composition. However, Bruckner had to wait a long time for recognition. His works, especially his symphonies, were often perceived as unwieldy, too long or too complex. Critics accused him of his music being difficult to understand and too reminiscent of Wagner. The turning point came with Anton Bruckner's 7th Symphony, which was composed between 1881 and 1883. The famous Adagio of this symphony, influenced by the death of Richard Wagner, became the musical turning point of his life. He finally received the long-awaited recognition, both in Austria and in Germany. The premiere in Leipzig in 1884 was a triumphant success and the symphony quickly spread throughout Europe. Despite this success, Bruckner remained an insecure composer, often plagued by doubts. He tended to revise his works again and again because he was never satisfied with his own compositions. As a result, there are different versions of many of his symphonies.

Monumental symphonies as a legacy

Bruckner's symphonic oeuvre comprises nine large-scale works, many of which were revised several times. Bruckner's 8th Symphony, premiered in 1892, is one of his most monumental works and is moving due to its dramatic intensity and tonal richness. It is considered one of the most important symphonies of the late 19th century and combines elements of German Romanticism with innovative harmonic developments. His last work, the Symphony No. 9 in D minor, remained unfinished. Planned as a grand farewell symphony, Bruckner only managed to complete three movements. The poignant third movement, the Adagio, is often regarded as his musical testament. Bruckner himself hoped that his already composed Te Deum could be used as the final movement for the symphony, but this was not realised after his death. A characteristic feature of Bruckner's symphonies is their monumental structure. They often begin with slow, mysterious introductions before huge waves of sound build up. His orchestral language is characterised by dramatic climaxes, massive brass sounds and deeply felt spirituality. Many of his symphonies have almost meditative passages in which he seems to achieve a kind of musical transcendence.

Sacred works and the Te Deum

In addition to his symphonies, Bruckner devoted himself intensively to sacred music. His masses, motets, and the Te Deum are among the most important works of church music of the 19th century. The Te Deum, composed between 1881 and 1884, is considered Bruckner's greatest contribution to sacred choral music. In church music in particular, Bruckner found a form of expression that reflected his deep religiousness. His three great masses and his numerous smaller sacred works display a unique combination of contrapuntal rigour and Romantic expressiveness. He created impressive sound spaces in which his admiration for Beethoven, Wagner, and the church music of the 16th century are united.

Bruckner as a person — a life full of contradictions

Bruckner was a loner who did not want to follow any school or doctrine. His personality was characterised by a deep faith, but at the same time by an almost childlike insecurity. While he often fearlessly broke new ground in his music, he was often reserved and full of self-doubt in his personal dealings. He had great difficulty finding his way in Viennese society. His rural origins, his Upper Austrian dialect and his awkward manner made him an outsider in Viennese artistic circles. The supporters of Johannes Brahms in particular, the so-called ‘Brahms faction’, vehemently rejected him and his music. These musical battles between the supporters of Wagner and those of Brahms did not make it easy for Bruckner to assert himself in Vienna. Nevertheless, he remained true to his musical vision. He refused to be deterred and continued to compose — frequently against all odds. His music was never designed to please the public or to pick up on current trends. Instead, he created works that are timeless and were often only fully appreciated decades after they were written.

Anton Bruckner's legacy

Bruckner died in Vienna on 11 October 1896. He was buried in the crypt of St Florian's Abbey Basilica, directly beneath his beloved organ. His wish that his music should live on has been more than fulfilled. Today, his symphonies are among the most important works in music history and his orchestral works are performed all over the world.