Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

This week Donald Macleod lifts the lid on the life and music of Anton Bruckner, focusing upon different themes to better understand both the man and the music.

Anton Bruckner was one of the great symphonists, and yet recognition for his talents as a composer came late in life. He was an Austrian by birth, and was noted for his improvisatory skills at the organ. In fact, he received invitations to travel abroad to France and England, where he demonstrated his skills at the organ console. Yet, although as a composer he would become recognised as one of the most innovatory figures of the second half of the 19th century, during his lifetime he was not only plagued by doubt especially made manifest through the harsh reactions of the Viennese music critics, but was also often dubbed a buffoon because of his dress, dialect and mannerisms.

Music Featured:

Symphony No 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (3rd mvt) - arr. Mahler Ave Maria, WAB 6 Fantasie in G major, WAB 118 Requiem, WAB 39 (Dies Irae) Symphony No 00 in F minor, WAB 99 (2nd mvt) - arr. Mahler Symphony No 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (4th mvt) Prelude in E flat major, WAB 127 No 2 Postlude in D minor, WAB 126 No 1 Libera me, WAB 22 Vor Arneths Grab, WAB 53 Prelude and Fugue in C minor, WAB 131 Te Deum, WAB 45 March in D minor, WAB 96 - arr. Edwin Horn Symphony No 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (1st mvt) String Quartet in C minor (3rd mvt) Symphony No 1 in C minor, WAB 101 (3rd mvt) Tota pulchra es, WAB 46 Symphony No 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (2nd mvt) Symphony No 7 in E major, WAB 107 (4th mvt) Prelude in C major, WAB 129 Locus iste, WAB 23 Symphony No 2 in C minor, WAB 102 (3rd mvt) Symphony No 6 in A major, WAB 106 (2nd mvt) Symphony No 8 in C minor, WAB 108/2 (1st mvt) Virga Jesse floruit, WAB 52 Pange lingua, WAB 33 Mass No 2 in E minor, WAB 27 (Sanctus) Mass No 3 in F minor, WAB 28 (Agnus Dei) Symphony No 4 in E flat major, WAB 104, ‘Romantic’ (1st mvt) Symphony No 9 in D minor, WAB 109 (2nd mvt)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bs92

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z