Tackling a serious gap in my musical knowledge

[jayne lee wilson]

No, no.2 is 70 minutes long and has had enough outings for now!
I can recall the main tune of mvt 2 scherzo but it does have double repeats! And even a coda.

It's the only symphony I listened too for the first time new that I nearly turned it off during the awful finale (lets face it- most Bruckner finales are except 3 and 5)

I have no problem with no.1. I have the original version. I've still yet to hear no.0 (I have heard the start of it). Is it any good?

3VS

P.S. cause I had trouble with one of my tapes I have a unique version of no.3 scherzo. It's backwards!

You're a hopeless case aren't you, 3VS? (said with a smile, a shake of the head and a virtual cuddle)...

But 70' for No.2? er...
Wand 58'57, Giulini 58'32, Karajan 60'40....the only one which runs beyond 70' is... Tintner, probably the finest of all...

If you almost enjoy No. 3, try Tintner's 1873 version, it's only 77'32!

Oh and, there's only one way to find out if No.1 is any good isn't there? There goes another 50' of a precious life...

[Petrushka]

I played the Gunter Wand recording of the Bruckner 2 tonight and, yes, I think it will eventually 'click'. By the way, I've also found VPO/Stein lurking on my shelves (so that makes 6 recordings) and that one will be my next attempt later.

[Panjandrum]

For VodkaDilc and anyone else with an interest in Bruckner, CD Review will be featuring the following new recordings:

Symphony No. 4 'Romantic'
Philharmonia Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor)
SIGNUM SIGCD256 (CD)


BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 in E (Haas edition)
c/w SCHOENBERG: A Survivor from Warsaw
Friedhelm Eberle (narrator), Israeli Opera Chorus, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Masur (conductor)
HELICON CLASSICS HEL029654 (CD)


BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D minor
Radio Symphonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Roger Norrington (conductor)
HANSSLER CLASSICS CD93.273 (CD)


11.50am Disc of the Week

BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 (Four-movement version with performing version of the finale by Samale / Phillips / Cohrs / Mazzuca)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Simon Rattle (conductor)
EMI 9529692 (CD)

Hopefully, Lutoslawski won't feature.

[Jonathan]

I have a recording of 2 alternative trios for the scherzo for the 9th symphony - can anyone shed light on where these fit in??

[Panjandrum]

I have a recording of 2 alternative trios for the scherzo for the 9th symphony - can anyone shed light on where these fit in??

AB discarded two early versions of the trio. Performing arrangements of these have been made.

[scottycelt]

Jayne says it all for me in #7 ... just start at No 1 and take it from there!

I don't understand all this 'how to approach Bruckner' stuff 'n' nonsense and never have done. He doesn't need 'approaching'. You either appreciate his music, or you don't, just like that of Mozart, Mahler, Brahms, etc.

If you want to go for a spiritual walk in the mountains, whilst sitting in a comfy armchair with the tipple of your choice, then Anton's your perfect guide!

[teamsaint]

Jayne says it all for me in #7 ... just start at No 1 and take it from there!

I don't understand all this 'how to approach Bruckner' stuff 'n' nonsense and never have done. He doesn't need 'approaching'. You either appreciate his music, or you don't, just like that of Mozart, Mahler, Brahms, etc.

If you want to go for a spiritual walk in the mountains, whilst sitting in a comfy armchair with the tipple of your choice, then Anton's your perfect guide!

and that is the perfect way of explaining what I am doing to Mrs TS !

[scottycelt]

and that is the perfect way of explaining what I am doing to Mrs TS !

I didn't realise Bruckner's music had quite that effect on you, Mr TS ...

[teamsaint]

I didn't realise Bruckner's music had quite that effect on you, Mr TS ...

Scotty, in these enlightened times, what you appear to be talking about we describe as "With".

But as you have spotted, yet another badly worded post!!

Back to the rock n roll on " talking about music " for me , then !!

[EdgeleyRob]

Start at the start and finish at the finish.
I love Bruckner but I haven't listened to some of the symphonies for a while,especially the early ones.
I might have a bit of a fest this long weekend.

[jayne lee wilson]

and that is the perfect way of explaining what I am doing to Mrs TS !

No, not badly worded at all, teamsaint, this version with "to" is FAR more interesting...
Bruckner's symphonies are RAVISHING creations, aren't they?

[teamsaint]

No, not badly worded at all, teamsaint, this version with "to" is FAR more interesting...
Bruckner's symphonies are RAVISHING creations, aren't they?

Its early days for me with Bruckner, and this is adding another level of complexity !In a good way, obviously !

[Panjandrum]

I'm sceptical about all this start at the beginning and work your way through shtick. Would you advise someone embarking on a reading of Shakespeare to start with 1 Henry VI (or 2 or 3 for that matter ) and work through to The Tempest? Chances are they'd give up before getting beyond the history plays. Or, closer to home, start with Beethoven 1 and 2? To tackle Bruckner in strictly (or rather nebulous) chronological order implies that all the symphonies are at the same level, which clearly they aren't. Start with 4 and then listen to the next five in whatever order you please. I think starting at 1 (or Die Nullte) and then going through the list would have any potential neophyte soon uttering the immortal remark of Peter Stadlen; "Surely we have a right to be bored by Bruckner"!

[Pianorak]

. . . Bruckner's symphonies are RAVISHING creations, aren't they?

I sincerely hope you are right, Jane! I have just ordered nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 conducted by Tintner.

[scottycelt]

I'm sceptical about all this start at the beginning and work your way through shtick. Would you advise someone embarking on a reading of Shakespeare to start with 1 Henry VI (or 2 or 3 for that matter ) and work through to The Tempest? Chances are they'd give up before getting beyond the history plays. Or, closer to home, start with Beethoven 1 and 2? To tackle Bruckner in strictly (or rather nebulous) chronological order implies that all the symphonies are at the same level, which clearly they aren't. Start with 4 and then listen to the next five in whatever order you please. I think starting at 1 (or Die Nullte) and then going through the list would have any potential neophyte soon uttering the immortal remark of Peter Stadlen; "Surely we have a right to be bored by Bruckner"!

Everyone is different, of course, and whatever grabs one ...

However, I part company with those who claim that Bruckner's later symphonies are somehow more worthy than the earlier ones ... more profound, even more grand, maybe, but Nos 1 and 2 are delightful masterpieces in their own right, though I readily concede a 'masterpiece' surely must be one's very own personal opinion.

If we ignore No 00 ... which the composer himself did merely describing it as 'an attempt', and believe that No 0 was actually composed around the time of No 3, then No 1 is indeed the logical place to start. Jayne is again correct in championing the fresh, invigorating 'Linz' version as opposed to the later, self-conscious and quite unnecessary 'Vienna' revision. This symphony (the 'Linz') demonstrates conclusively that Bruckner could easily have been simply a more modern Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn etc, all rolled into one, but he had his own ideas for a symphony, for which many music-lovers are now eternally grateful.

I, myself, started with No 7 and then No 4 because at the time those were virtually the only Bruckner symphonies widely available on disc. After eventually being able to listen to Nos 1 and 2, I remember being totally bewildered as to why I'd never been able to hear them before.

Indeed, in my most humble of opinions, the climax near the end of the slow movement of No 1 is one of the most majestic passages in all Bruckner ... and that's some claim!!