How did you discover Bruckner's music?

[Mirror Image]

I actually discovered Bruckner by complete accident. I had bought some of Mahler's music back in January and you know how Amazon has those recommendations "if you like Mahler, then you may also like..." well one of the recommendations was Eugen Jochum's DG cycle of Bruckner's symphonies. I got the set very cheap and just took a chance on it. When I first listened to Bruckner, I was kind of turned off by his music. I don't know if it was the repetition, the orchestration, but I wasn't that impressed.

A few months went by and I ran across the Gunter Wand/Cologne Radio Symphony RCA symphony cycle. I got it very cheap (around $35) and when I listened to it was blown away. I don't know if it had been the time I took off from the music or not, but I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.

It was at this time I became a devoteed fan of this man's music.

Now your turn....

[Philidor]

I was prejudiced against Bruckner in c. 1975 and never really recovered. I was just getting interested in small scale baroque stuff and went to a Bruckner Prom (a cheap ticket offer plus a girl I was chasing was going...). This great wallop of brass, massed fiddles and Germanic 19th century Romanticism hit me, and I never really recovered. I'm hoping this group will help remove the prejudice. I've carried it round for too long.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by Philidor

I was prejudiced against Bruckner in c. 1975 and never really recovered. I was just getting interested in small scale baroque stuff and went to a Bruckner Prom (a cheap ticket offer plus a girl I was chasing was going...). This great wallop of brass, massed fiddles and Germanic 19th century Romanticism hit me, and I never really recovered. I'm hoping this group will help remove the prejudice. I've carried it round for too long.

Why exactly were you prejudiced against Bruckner's music? Could you be a little more specific?

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Mirror Image

Why exactly were you prejudiced against Bruckner's music? Could you be a little more specific?

It seemed a lot of pointless, shouty, brassy, Germanic noise: like a man drunk on schnapps yelling in the street; 'a tale... told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.'

I realised later I was wrong. People I admire - Wittgenstein for example - admired Bruckner and you can't understand W's culture, and therefore his ideas, without understanding Brahms, Wagner and Bruckner. That's the main reason I joined this group: I want to know where Bruckner fits in.

From Wittgenstein's notebooks. He was a passionate music lover:

[Scott Good]

In my last year of high school, I joined the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. The big piece we played that year was Bruckner 4. And, as I was playing bass trombone, it was a hoot!

I must admit I am medium to this composer. Just too long winded for my taste. I think in it's time, it would have been much more effective. That being said, he certainly does have some juicy sections - big and lush. Some powerful melodies. And, it is fun to play when you are a brass player. (I am quite a fan of his choral writing as well).

Little story: The TSYO decided that year to perform at a festival of youth orchestras in Boston. There were 5 groups, and if I may say so , we sounded pretty darn good in comparison. So good, that 2 of the orchestras left before we played! We asked why, and some of the players (who were very disappointed) said their teachers were worried that we would intimidate them. (now, to be fair, the age restrictions of ours was looser, and we had then 5 years of high school, so, was an older, more experienced group).

At any rate, we all performed at Convocation Hall (can't remember which of the 300 Universities!). In typical fashion, it was round, and the ceiling was lined with windows - quite grand actually. We had a short space, so only played movements 3 and 4. Well, when the basses came in on the last movement, that brooding, fatalistic pulse, the weather began to change (i'm getting goose bumps as i write), and a terrific thunder storm started to build. When the grand coda came, you know with the tremolo strings and brass choral, the thunder was pounding, and lightning danced around the theater.

It was, and still is, the greatest orchestral performing moment of my life. (the 2nd was in Germany playing Tchaikovsky 4 in Heidelberg castle...another story for another time) The storms ambiance elevated our orchestra to a level we didn't know we could achieve. Our ears and heart were wide open. It was tight. It was passionate. It was glorious. After, we were pretty much stunned by the experience. Many were in tears (including me).

So, a very fond memory of my first encounter with Bruckner!

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Scott Good

So good, that 2 of the orchestras left before we played!

Great story btw. Proves, yet again, why children should be taught to play an instrument/sing: they'll have experiences they'll never forget.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by Philidor

It seemed a lot of pointless, shouty, brassy, Germanic noise: like a man drunk on schnapps yelling in the street; 'a tale... told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.'

I realised later I was wrong. People I admire - Wittgenstein for example - admired Bruckner and you can't understand W's culture, and therefore his ideas, without understanding Brahms, Wagner and Bruckner. That's the main reason I joined this group: I want to know where Bruckner fits in.

In my personal experience, you can't understand any composer without understanding the man himself. Why did he compose these vast soundscapes? Why did he compose such long works? The truth be told Bruckner has a lot to say and his music just wouldn't sound right at a shorter length.

I believe for Bruckner music was much more about transcendence and getting beyond the actual music ---- almost like a spiritual experience. He was an admirer of Wagner, but Wagner's music only acted as inspiration. I think Bruckner took what Wagner did for operas, but only applied it in the form of a symphony. I think Bruckner was trying to do something different with music and for some it worked and for others it obviously didn't impress. He was a true visionary. He definitely opened up the doors for future composers like Mahler.

The innovation of Bruckner's music lies within it's structure and it's building of themes. The reason why so many conductors fail at Bruckner's music is because they don't know how to keep a taut line on the orchestra. Without that taut line, Bruckner's music will just fall apart. That's why there's really only a handful of conductors who truly understand his music.

[haydnguy]

Would anyone have a suggestion as to which Bruckner symphony to start with for a Bruckner newby?? Thanks.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by haydnguy

Would anyone have a suggestion as to which Bruckner symphony to start with for a Bruckner newby?? Thanks.

I would start with Symphony No. 4 "Romantic." This is an excellent introduction to his music, because not only is one of the most straightforward of his symphonies, but it has some great melodies. Like all of Bruckner's symphonies, it bares his mark all over it. He's unlike any composer you've heard and I truly mean that.

[Despina41]

Ok, this is how I got into Bruckner:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-VNJxTNmuQ&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-VNJxTNmuQ&feature=related[/ame]


Obviously with music like this, I have to be in the right mood for it, but when I am, it's really great. In college I used it a lot at 3 am to help stay awake and motivated on all-nighters. My roommate and I concluded, "We always seem to turn to the cosmic when we're trying to work at 3 am..."