Bruckner's 7th Symphony

[kernelbogey]

i am gonna try bruckner 7 now as part of my musical journey but i want to know what you all mean by humane. it keeps cropping up as a description - whAT do you all mean?

Bruckner 7 is one of my greatest loves. I don't know either what they mean by 'humane', Roberta. I suggest you try to put out of your mind all of others' judgements and words about this symphony and listen to it with a completely open mind, allowing the music to speak directly to you.

A belated welcome, also, from me.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

i am gonna try bruckner 7 now as part of my musical journey but i want to know what you all mean by humane. it keeps cropping up as a description - whAT do you all mean?

"Flawed".

[Sir Velo]

i am gonna try bruckner 7 now as part of my musical journey but i want to know what you all mean by humane. it keeps cropping up as a description - whAT do you all mean?

Some conductors emphasise the austere, granite-like quality in Bruckner's music. Others, like Walter, mould the music, lingering over certain phrases, so that it brings out the humanity and pathos. The ambiguity is in the music so either approach is permissible.

[scottycelt]

Some conductors emphasise the austere, granite-like quality in Bruckner's music. Others, like Walter, mould the music, lingering over certain phrases, so that it brings out the humanity and pathos. The ambiguity is in the music so either approach is permissible.

That's it in a nutshell, as far as I'm concerned. Bruckner's music can sound 'earthy' or 'heavenly' and even both at the same time, on occasion.

Bruckner 7 was my very first intro to this very special (to me) composer. I was immediately hooked and nearly forty years later I am probably even more enthusiastic and passionate about the music than ever.

Not that anyone will have noticed ...

[Barbirollians]

"Flawed".

Karajan after 1980

[JFLL]

I've just received the new Klemperer set (4-9 only), of which I've only heard the 6th and 7th before (and liked). It will be interesting to hear the 8th (don't mention the cuts, anyone, please!) and 9th in particular. I wonder if they will throw light on Klemperer's mysterious but surely jocular remark that Bruno Walter was a moralist, but he, Klemperer, was an immoralist.

[richardfinegold]

i am gonna try bruckner 7 now as part of my musical journey but i want to know what you all mean by humane. it keeps cropping up as a description - whAT do you all mean?

I've only recently come around to appreciating the piece, although I had been listening to it on and off for the last 20 years or so. Again, don't feel like you are deficient in any way if you don't care for it. Bruckner is a bit of an acquired taste.

[scottycelt]

I've only recently come around to appreciating the piece, although I had been listening to it on and off for the last 20 years or so. Again, don't feel like you are deficient in any way if you don't care for it. Bruckner is a bit of an acquired taste.

Absolutely ... just as, say, Mozart, Brahms and Mahler may well be for others?

[richardfinegold]

Absolutely ... just as, say, Mozart, Brahms and Mahler may well be for others?

Absolutely.
The 9th was the Symphony that hooked me on Bruckner. After that, 4,5 and 6. 7&8 were harder nuts to crack but now I enjoy them, but only with a limited set of interpreters. There is so much repetition in these pieces that it requires a skilled conductor to stop the ennui from creeping in.

[akiralx]

I've got many recordings of this, mostly well known ones, but have been very impressed recently with the Paavo Jarvi and Nagano versions (both on SACD coincidentally).

[mathias broucek]

... my favourite Bruckner 7 isn't even included in the above listing! It is on the Andante label and is a live 1976 performance given at the Salzburg Festival with Karl Bohm and the VPO. The commercial recording made at the same time is very good but the live performance just has the edge.

There's a really nice live Bohm radio recording from Audite (Bav RSO). It too is ahead of the DG version

[teamsaint]

i am gonna try bruckner 7 now as part of my musical journey but i want to know what you all mean by humane. it keeps cropping up as a description - whAT do you all mean?

Let us know how you get on. Are you new to the 7th, or Bruckner generally?
Bruckner was a 2012 discovery for me, so these threads are way over my head.....but he is an exciting composer to discover.

[cloughie]

i am gonna try bruckner 7 now as part of my musical journey but i want to know what you all mean by humane. it keeps cropping up as a description - whAT do you all mean?

The first two movements get you right there!

[teamsaint]

The first two movements get you right there!

its all firsts with you today Cloughie !! i'll say no more....

[Petrushka]

There's a really nice live Bohm radio recording from Audite (Bav RSO). It too is ahead of the DG version

I have that too and haven't heard it in ages. Must give it a spin asap.