What is your favorite Bruckner symphony?

[Cato]

Yes, that is my take on it.

Has anyone listened to the Rattle recording of the completion of the 9th? I am torn between taking it on board and remaining faithful to the wonderful torso I have known for so long.

Mike

I have not heard that specific recording, but give the completion attempt a try!  (I like it.)  Certainly if Rattle took the time to bother with it, he thinks it is worthwhile.

[bhodges]

Has anyone listened to the Rattle recording of the completion of the 9th? I am torn between taking it on board and remaining faithful to the wonderful torso I have known for so long.

Mike

Have not heard the recording but did hear Rattle and Berlin do it live last year. Short version: I think it's well worth hearing, even if the finale doesn't quite (after just one hearing) persuade. That said, Rattle's overall concept - ferocious, even scary in places - is worth a listen for that reason alone.

--Bruce

[knight66]

Both, Thanks for your encouragement. My apologies, I should have been clear. I have the recording and enjoy it. I think the reconstructed final movement is very convincing. But having listened to it for about 40 years in its truncated version, I have got used to the incomplete feeling like a complete work and I swither as to which I prefer. It has become one of my few favourite Rattle recordings.

I had half expected to be slapped down, so, as I say I was encouraged by your replies.

Mike

[kyjo]

Has anyone listened to the Rattle recording of the completion of the 9th? I am torn between taking it on board and remaining faithful to the wonderful torso I have known for so long.

I've heard it and it's a pretty successful ending, I daresay. Of course, it can't compare with the original three movements, but it's a grand, satisfying conclusion all the same. I'm no purist when it comes to tampering with music like this, so others will undoubtedly disagree.

[Brahmsian]

The 9th, to me, feels already 'complete', with the 3 movements.  Always felt that way.  However, I would definitely be interested in hearing Rattle's reconstructed finale! 

BTW, I also feel the same about Schubert's 8th Symphony.  It's always felt complete, to me.  I thought 'Unfinished' was just the nickname of the symphony, at first!   

[Cato]

I've heard it and it's a pretty successful ending, I daresay. Of course, it can't compare with the original three movements, but it's a grand, satisfying conclusion all the same. I'm no purist when it comes to tampering with music like this, so others will undoubtedly disagree.

Yes, and one reads all sorts of things.  I have a copy (published many decades ago) of the manuscript and of the sketches found through the 1960's.  I understand that other things were discovered, which led musicologists to consider the possibility of a completion.

Here is a link to the Revised Standard Version  as it stands right now: it has an essay explaining the ins and outs and unders and overs!

http://www.abruckner.com/Data/articles/articlesEnglish/cohrsB9finale/BG_Cohrs_Introduction_SPCM2012.pdf

One hears so many stories, e.g. that the Finale was actually complete, but that when Bruckner died, his students took pages of it as a souvenir, etc.

I agree that there is a case for accepting the work as a 3-movement edifice.  In such cases, however, e.g. Mahler and the Tenth and Scriabin's Mysterium, there is a fascination with the "what-might-have-been" aspect, or of wanting to hear the composer just one last time.

And so we are willing to glean the actual from the potential and to ponder the validity of the guesswork!

[Brahmsian]

I have not heard that specific recording, but give the completion attempt a try!  (I like it.)  Certainly if Rattle took the time to bother with it, he thinks it is worthwhile.

Has anyone else besides Rattle recorded the 4-movement Bruckner 9?

I'll have to put on my wish list! 

[Sergeant Rock]

Has anyone else besides Rattle recorded the 4-movement Bruckner 9?

Several. I have two besides Rattle: Friedemann Layer recorded an earlier Mazzuca version with my homies, the Nationaltheater-Orchesters Mannheim. The controversial, and weird, Peter Jan Marthé has completed and recorded his own version of the Finale with the European Philharmonic. Harnoncourt has recorded Bruckner's sketches.




Sarge

[Brahmsian]

Several. I have two besides Rattle: Friedemann Layer recorded an earlier Mazzuca version with my homies, the Nationaltheater-Orchesters Mannheim. The controversial, and weird, Peter Jan Marthé has completed and recorded his own version of the Finale with the European Philharmonic. Harnoncourt has recorded Bruckner's sketches.




Sarge

Thanks, Sarge!  Oh no, not that conductor who 'has conversations' with Bruckner! 

[Sergeant Rock]

Thanks, Sarge!  Oh no, not that conductor who 'has conversations' with Bruckner! 

It's worse than that. I believe he thinks he's actually channeling Bruckner's spirit. But, hey, the results are magnificent, so more power to him 

Sarge

[springrite]

9 and 2.

I finally voted by checking #9, which is why 2 is still, uh, without a vote. Should have voted for two as I think about it, since 9 does not lack support.

[Cato]

Has anyone else besides Rattle recorded the 4-movement Bruckner 9?

I'll have to put on my wish list! 

The recent Rattle is the recording with (what seems to be) the most accurate version from the team of musicologists involved with the score and sketches throughout the years.

At least...according to this team of musicologists!   0:)   

[Daverz]

Has anyone else besides Rattle recorded the 4-movement Bruckner 9?

See http://www.abruckner.com/discography/symphonyno9indmino/

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Unquestionably no. 6 but no. 3 is pretty close as well.

[Ken B]

I voted 9. 9,7,4,3,8 gap 6,5, gap, 1, gap, the sound of cats being vivisected, gap, 2

[Cato]

Ultimately everything from the F minor "Study Symphony" onward is a favorite!   

Favorites can rotate, as many know: suddenly Symphony #_ is the favorite!

[Sergeant Rock]

the sound of cats being vivisected

Die Nullte? Oh no, say it ain't so. That's a magnificent D minor work...well, I like it anyway.

Sarge

[Cato]

Die Nullte? Oh no, say it ain't so. That's a magnificent D minor work...well, I like it anyway.

Sarge

Amen Amen!   0:)

My experience recently of hearing it in a cathedral made me recall that it needs to be better known:
Symphony #1.5 would make a better case for it!

[Ken B]

Die Nullte? Oh no, say it ain't so. That's a magnificent D minor work...well, I like it anyway.

Sarge

No, I wasn't counting 0 or 00 as I have almost never played them. At most twice each ever.