How did you discover Bruckner's music?

[Zeitblom]

My first encounter with Bruckner was a broadcast from the Proms - Solti conducting the Seventh Symphony. I was about seventeen at the time and was completely blown away by it - I thought it was just about the most extraordinary thing I had ever heard. And Bruckner remained a huge enthusiasm throughout my student years - highlights included going up to London to hear Jochum conducting the Vienna Phil in the Seventh at the Festival Hall - those horns!. At first, I think it was the sheer glorious sound that made such a huge impression.

And since then I've found I've gone through phases - at times venerating Bruckner, at others finding his music next to unlistenable, prolix and repetitive (I've always had a bit of a problem with the scherzi) - my reaction was a lot like Philidor's. And yet there's something there that wins out and lures me back. At the moment, I'm coming out of an anti-Bruckner phase and listening to quite a bit of the music - especially the Fourth and Sixth, both played on the iPod on my fifty-mile train commute to work in the last couple of weeks.

Wagner has long been, and remains, one of my great musical passions and it seems to me that Bruckner is fundamentally different - aesthetically and musically. A work whose discovery did lots for my appreciation of Bruckner was the Schubert E flat Mass - a lot of things seemed to slip into place when I heard how Schubert pointed the way forward so clearly to what Bruckner did.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by Zeitblom

Wagner has long been, and remains, one of my great musical passions and it seems to me that Bruckner is fundamentally different - aesthetically and musically. A work whose discovery did lots for my appreciation of Bruckner was the Schubert E flat Mass - a lot of things seemed to slip into place when I heard how Schubert pointed the way forward so clearly to what Bruckner did.

Bruckner is different than Wagner, but Wagner was one of Bruckner's main inspirations. His influence couldn't be ignored, but what Bruckner did with the music itself was totally different and in my mind very innovative. He took the sonata form and expanded it into something totally his own. Bruckner was a true master.

[Balthazar]

I got into Bruckner after becoming a Mahler fan. They are usually mentioned in the same breath due to the fact that they were Wagner acolytes and both composed colossal symphonies.

However, I find Mahler has a lot more modern perspective, full of irony and occasional satire. Bruckner's work is musically complex, but not as neurotic as Mahler's.

I'm not familiar with even half of his symphonies, but I love the Sixth.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by Balthazar

I got into Bruckner after becoming a Mahler fan. They are usually mentioned in the same breath due to the fact that they were Wagner acolytes and both composed colossal symphonies.

However, I find Mahler has a lot more modern perspective, full of irony and occasional satire. Bruckner's work is musically complex, but not as neurotic as Mahler's.

I'm not familiar with even half of his symphonies, but I love the Sixth.

I'm not really sure why both of these composers are mentioned in the same breath. It really doesn't make any sense to me. Yes, they both loved Wagner's music and wrote large orchestral music, but they couldn't be more different. Just like when people mention Debussy, Ravel is not too far down the corner from being mentioned, or vice versa.

Since you love Bruckner's 6th, you must hear his 4th. All of his symphonies are worlds unto themselves, but the 6th and 4th are much "lighter" as opposed to his others.

[Mischa]

The Ninth is truly wonderful and innovative. But as much fun as it makes to play his 4th and 7th, it's not the music I would want to listen to in a concert or at home.

The 9th is one of the greatest "unfiinished" pieces of music ever written as far as I'm concerned.

[lirica]

Seventh symphony have a deep religious and personal sense . It seems to me, that in each great music are collective trues, which live in all us : because the genius contains all things in himself. And everyone hears (realizes) thoughts which are existing in his individual unconscious. I think, the musical perception is not subjective, but limited of our individual unconscious . Jung wrote about 3 components in a internal world of each person - collective unconscious, individual unconscious and... realized, understood thoughts, conscious ideas( exuse my English).

I could not hear vulnerability of the composer, but... I have well understood in allegro his reflections about the man: behind a rough shell - the soul exists that is very vulnerable.
Then suddenly loud and disturbing chord warn us : "Do not trust to him (devil), he may imperceptibly get into our soul, be careful". And then ... come a recognition of our weaknesses human :" We are lazy, we like to eat and so far up to saints" ( composer recognizes with bitterness ).
Very beautiful adagio, music of unearthly beauty. And the ending is very vital and energical :" I shall lead all of you in this light world, in my breast burns divine fire, which does not give me rest".

But I should like to add about my personal position to such music. I have come to it too late, but now I understand.... what a great pleasure ... to hear this richness, it is possible to live eternally in these perfect sounds, rich colors, timbres and fine, complex ideas . It is possible even ....to get lost ourselvs in them, to be intoxicated by them .
But , it is ....a CONTEMPLATE life, here the perception - the main component. And I should like to act, for me - more desirable to improve the world in which I live ( this world is very rough).
Only it is necessary to arm by such high and fine knowledge of human culture.
And I understand, that not all people have such forces and thirst of action, but.... I cannot live by another way . And I hope very much - to win. For the woman it is much more complex and difficult, but I shall try. I love words of Napoleon: " The main thing - to get involved in fight, and after... it will be visible - what will come out ."

[Mirror Image]

Lirica:

That was beautiful. Very well said. You should feel spirituality in Bruckner's music, because for Bruckner it was much more about spritiuality and his own religious beliefs than the music itself. The music only acts as an expressive tool for the composer. Bruckner was such a master of expression.

[lirica]

I should like to add about classical music and Bruckner.
This refined and elite's world for me is inadmissible luxury, I wish to know it in the volume, that is necessary for my future.
But to live in this magnificent house - I do not presume, though hardly I come off this beauty.
And I should like to share one thought.
Once dialogue with the nature has helped me to consult to many problems.
And the nature began to open to me it's secrets: language of butterflies and bugs became clear to me, trees and grasses told about their ultimate goal of development, the wood became my defender for ever, and.... I have plunged in bliss of dialogue and contemplation of secrets and beauty of our Mother Nature.

Also it was pleased, that I have such rare luck, that is absolutely unessential to be saint woman for this purpose (I am a usual being with terrestrial interests).

And in this pleasure passed hours, days.. months, some years. And I was blissfully happy, I enjoyed of mysterious conversation with plants and birds: I float in waves of good feelings, love and beauty.

And suddenly it became a shame to me: there below (the wood is located on the hill, above city) live unhappy people with psychological problems and illnesses, and I know a way on which it is possible to leave deadlock.

And then the decision has suddenly come: it is not necessary so much knowledge and beauty for one person( for me).
I want, that people have learned secret of a neurosis (my former main enemy and also of many cultural people today), and secret of a cancer, a diabetes, an impotence and frigidity (yet the medicine does not know their reason exactly). I should like that mothers would be calm for health of children without doctors and hospitals (as I am today ).
And I have told : NO! to immersing in contemplation, and I go to wood only for the future's purposes - to support myself in the good form for dance (flexibility demands discipline and efforts).
It is not a theme of Bruckner, but maybe he would be pleasant, because he was a CHRISTIAN.

[audiophilia]

Father would tell us stories when I was about 5 or 6 to emphazise the drama in Bruckner. The Gericault paintings on the CBS/CBS SO/Walter scared me.

I've been in love with Bruckner since then.

8
9
7
5
4

Don't think too much of the rest.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by audiophilia

Father would tell us stories when I was about 5 or 6 to emphazise the drama in Bruckner. The Gericault paintings on the CBS/CBS SO/Walter scared me.

I've been in love with Bruckner since then.

8
9
7
5
4

Don't think too much of the rest.

I actually like them all, but if I had to choose it would be 4-9. The 6th is very underrated and I bet if you spent more time with (assuming that you haven't listened to it much), then you maybe could appreciate it a little better. It has a "lighter" feel to than Bruckner's later symphonies, but it's a very interesting listen to say least. There's some interesting counterpoint happening in that symphony.