Anton Bruckner, born in 1824 in Ansfelden, Austria. His
father passed when he was only 13 and Bruckner was sent to the Augustinian
monastery in Sankt Florian, to train as a choirboy. Here he educated himself in violin and organ.
He began his working musical career in 1845 as the organist at Sankt Florian.
After studying music theory with Simon Sechter, and Otto Kitzler Bruckner took
a job as teacher of Music Theory at the Vienna Conservatory.
Bruckner is
most known for his symphonies. While studying music theory he came up with a
new model of a symphony that expanded on Beethoven’s style and capitalizing of the Romantic era. His new style is
best laid out in his Symphony No. 1 . In
the first movement Bruckner opens his symphony fairly quietly, with the melody
in the winds and the strings that crescendo on a tremolo for the first minute
or so of the movement. This eventually builds up to a rather large climax,
which seems to be the case in every movement. This movement is in sonata form
but uses three contrasting themes in the exposition rather than the typical
two. In the second movement, Bruckner
elaborates on a long drawn out ABABA form. The third movement in his
symphonies, are all based on dance rhythms and very greatly in tempo. Bruckner tends to use rhythmically heavy
dance themes in the third movement with the trio section of this movement being
completely contrasting and light. The final movement is modeled the same as his
first but with a much more expanded coda. What makes his finale so unique is the
use of a double fugue.
His Symphony
No.1 was not completed until 1865, and has since been revised 3 times. It is in C minor, as all of Buckners symphonies were in a minor key. This recording is a performance of its first revision were Buckner added trumpet and trombone to the score.
Watson, D. (2009, February 12). Anton Bruckner. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anton-Bruckner
This guy was granted an honorary doctorate and I would like to know how to get one of those. Also the fact that he nicknamed this piece "saucy maid" makes me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteFrom what i read, you get an honorary doctorate if you are compassionate about something that you do that benefits a "community, nation or humanity" in general. It is not earned through academic achievement.
DeleteIt seems that composers were often granted honorary doctorates for their work. Brahms received several of them throughout his life just because of the impact his music had on people. I would imagine that as an innovative Czech composer, he probably had a significant impact on the people of his nation.
DeleteI found it interesting that all his symphonies were in minor keys. I wonder why they were all in minor keys?
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting how consistent he was in all his symphonies in terms of form and themes, and especially key. How many composers out there composed only in minor? I'm guessing the number is pretty low.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Bruckner had a similar beginning to Haydn. Taken in to become a choirboy, being given the means to study and learn about music. Haydn, studying violin and piano, parallel to Bruckner with violin and the organ. It's interesting to hear know that they both became successful composers with similar backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteCould the fact that he came up with a new model to expand Beethoven's style make him a proper heir if he was in the right place at the right time? Could he be the third wheel in the heir tricycle of Brahms and Wagner or could he have replaced one of them? Just a few thoughts.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you keep finding these odd composers? I'm pretty sure I haven't heard of any of the composers that you have written about this semester. Also, like Alex said, I find it interesting that he could have been the next Beethoven if he was positioned correctly, as opposed to Brahms.
ReplyDelete