Bruckner's Abbey

[Brahmsian]

Probably new since your last call, André, but I've become a Bruckner fan.

*pounds la table!* 

[springrite]

Probably new since your last call, André, but I've become a Bruckner fan.

In a limited way, kind of like me...

[Sergeant Rock]

In a limited way, kind of like me...

Why limited?

Sarge

[springrite]

Why limited?

Sarge

Well, I am only love Furtwangler's Bruckner and a few odd other recordings.

[Sergeant Rock]

Well, I am only love Furtwangler's Bruckner and a few odd other recordings.

I see...

Sarge

[North Star]

I should get some choral Bruckner as I only have the symphonies on disc.

What do the good people here think I should get?

   

[TheGSMoeller]

I should get some choral Bruckner as I only have the symphonies on disc.

What do the good people here think I should get?

   

I recently purchased the Best and Jochum sets, and I prefer the Best set by quite a bit. The Mass No. 2 is brilliantly recorded, worth the money alone.

[North Star]

I recently purchased the Best and Jochum sets, and I prefer the Best set by quite a bit. The Mass No. 2 is brilliantly recorded, worth the money alone.

Thanks, Greg - The Best does look very nice, and I would think the sound quality is not a small matter in this music.

[Karl Henning]

I've got the Barenboim, and I am considering the Best  0:)

[springrite]

I've got the Barenboim, and I am considering the Best  0:)

Yes, I have the Furtwangler Light set as well.

[Brahmsian]

I recently purchased the Best and Jochum sets, and I prefer the Best set by quite a bit. The Mass No. 2 is brilliantly recorded, worth the money alone.

Hey Greg! 

I have this recording of Mass No. 3 in F minor, and it is outstanding! 

[asin]B001BBSE32[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

I'll bet it is, Ray!

[North Star]

Hey Greg! 

I have this recording of Mass No. 3 in F minor, and it is outstanding! 

I'll bet it is, Ray!

+1

[jlaurson]

I should get some choral Bruckner as I only have the symphonies on disc.

What do the good people here think I should get?

   

From the LISTEN Magazine article on Masses in the last issue, (http://www.listenmusicmag.com/feature/mass-communication.php)

this about Bruckner:

The greatest composer of masses since Haydn, and one of the most devout, was Anton Bruckner (1824 –1896). Bucking the rising trend of turning Masses from utility works solely meant to fulfill their function of celebrating the glory of God towards one of individualistic artistic expression, Bruckner wrote only toward the former end. In fact, the trained teacher, organist, and largely misunderstood composer even probably wrote that end every time he wrote anything at all, including his Symphonies.

Few composers were more pre-destined and uniquely suited to writing masses than Bruckner. His symphonies, unrestrained by textual and liturgical considerations are the more innovative, soaring works. They offer greater melodic freedom, more natural force. More of that humble audacity. But within the restriction of the mass, the text of which was sacrosanct to him, Bruckner found his voice and the epitome of his divine simplicity. His masses are to the point, tempered, impassioned, but innocent and filled with pure beauty and truth.

It's hard to speak about Bruckner passionately without drifting towards the cliché of the simple, honest, devout man, the village school-teacher on bended knee before God the Almighty, ever self-effacing. The Masses make it especially hard. A Bishop in Linz is said to have told Bruckner — as the highest compliment — that he was unable to pray while Bruckner played the organ: Bruckner's playing was a prayer that naturally superseded all other prayers. Listening with open mind and eager eras to the F minor Mass, you will know what that bishop meant and why not knowing Bruckner's masses means not knowing Bruckner.

The recommendation is the Jochum... which I like... but I've always found these take time to appreciate -- which is also why I wasn't immediately hooked on the Herreweghe, for all its undeniable qualities.

Don't deny yourself Helgoland if you want Brucknerian choral goodness!

[North Star]

From the LISTEN Magazine article on Masses in the last issue, (http://www.listenmusicmag.com/feature/mass-communication.php)

this about Bruckner:

The recommendation is the Jochum... which I like... but I've always found these take time to appreciate -- which is also why I wasn't immediately hooked on the Herreweghe, for all its undeniable qualities.

Don't deny yourself Helgoland if you want Brucknerian choral goodness!

Cheers, Jens!
I'll listen to Helgoland next, then.

[André]

There's a semi-cheap (also called 'mid-price') set of discs on the Berlin Classics label that has been reissued by Brilliant. It includes the best Mass in E minor and in F minor, and the best Te Deum I know of. The brilliant conductor is that excellent brucknerian Heinz Rögner (whose superb set of symphonies Brilliant has also reissued, making it one of the best integral sets available (*)).

Best is very good, but the very best is Rögner. Mass no 1 is from an unknown quantity (Nicol Matt). But with 2 outstanding discs out of a possible 3, I have no hesitation in recommending that set.

Also, there is a very good Rilling disc of the Mass in F minor. For the adventurous, Celibidache has produced an incense-laden, heavily perfumed and grave F minor Mass. Sumptuously played and sung, and beautifully recorded, too.

(*) The Rögner set of symphonies is really only 4-9 by Rögner, with the Berlin Radio S.O., digital recordings hailing from the eighties. It is completed by the First under Neumann (possibly the best ever issued), an old mono Second symphony by that stalwart Franz Konwitschny, and a 1963 Third by veteran brucknerian Kurt Sanderling).  Heartily recommended - you wil have read about it first on this very page ! 

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, mon cher, for making this thread yet more perilous for me     0:)

[jlaurson]

Best is very good, but the very best is Rögner.

Oh, that turn of phrase alone was worth the thread! Very nice!

[André]

When it comes to Helgoland, make a special place for the incandescent, granitic, slow-moving pillars of Heaven version by Wyn Morris. It is generally coupled with that equally improbable choral masterpiece, Wagner's Das Liebesmahl von der Apostel (the 'Love Feast of the Apostles', describing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the 70 in the High Chamber). All other versions I have heard take things up to unbrucknerian speeds, thereby negating the messiaenesque, 'Hallleluia-ing' grandeur of the recap and coda.

[North Star]

There's a semi-cheap (also called 'mid-price') set of discs on the Berlin Classics label that has been reissued by Brilliant. It includes the best Mass in E minor and in F minor, and the best Te Deum I know of. The brilliant conductor is that excellent brucknerian Heinz Rögner (whose superb set of symphonies Brilliant has also reissued, making it one of the best integral sets available (*)).

Best is very good, but the very best is Rögner. Mass no 1 is from an unknown quantity (Nicol Matt). But with 2 outstanding discs out of a possible 3, I have no hesitation in recommending that set.

Also, there is a very good Rilling disc of the Mass in F minor. For the adventurous, Celibidache has produced an incense-laden, heavily perfumed and grave F minor Mass. Sumptuously played and sung, and beautifully recorded, too.

(*) The Rögner set of symphonies is really only 4-9 by Rögner, with the Berlin Radio S.O., digital recordings hailing from the eighties. It is completed by the First under Neumann (possibly the best ever issued), an old mono Second symphony by that stalwart Franz Konwitschny, and a 1963 Third by veteran brucknerian Kurt Sanderling).  Heartily recommended - you wil have read about it first on this very page ! 

When it comes to Helgoland, make a special place for the incandescent, granitic, slow-moving pillars of Heaven version by Wyn Morris. It is generally coupled with that equally improbable choral masterpiece, Wagner's Das Liebesmahl von der Apostel (the 'Love Feast of the Apostles', describing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the 70 in the High Chamber). All other versions I have heard take things up to unbrucknerian speeds, thereby negating the messiaenesque, 'Hallleluia-ing' grandeur of the recap and coda.

Thanks for the recommendations, André!

I'll probably get this Rögner set.
https://www.youtube.com/v/MQHKmS0kifg