Anton Bruckner, the composer, viewed the symphony as the ultimate form of music, aiming to create monumental works that surpassed those of his predecessors.
Compositional Technique
Bruckner's symphonies are characterized by their slowness and use of long note values, with the half-note often serving as the beat, contributing to a monumental feel.
Compositional Technique
Bruckner's symphonies are known for their 'spaciousness' in themes, using large intervals and wide ranges, and harmonically, by connecting distant keys quickly.
Compositional Technique
Bruckner significantly expanded the brass section in his symphonies, giving these instruments a sustained and often dominant role, rather than just a supporting one.
Composition History
Several of Bruckner's symphonies exist in different versions because he reacted to failures, made concessions to aesthetic views, and allowed others to influence his work.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bruckner preferred a powerful, loud sound and a dark, shaded timbre, often using instructions like 'broad bowing' to achieve maximum sound volume from the strings.
Performer Biography
Mariss Jansons, one of the conductors on this album, was the Music Director of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1979 to 2000, leading it to international acclaim.
