Bruckner's Abbey

[LKB]

Bouncing back to YouTube for the Fifth... in case some haven't viewed this performance, I've found it quite worthwhile:

https://youtu.be/7IPqiq7nTgs

They aren't " world class ", and that shows here and there. But it's still quite an effective and largely successful effort, imho.

[vers la flamme]

Great!  Let us know what you think!

On another point: I did not know that there is a private Bruckner University in Austria!

Nice! Today I learned there's a Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx Sadly, I doubt that it was named for the composer.

[Cato]

Bouncing back to YouTube for the Fifth... in case some haven't viewed this performance, I've found it quite worthwhile:

https://youtu.be/7IPqiq7nTgs

They aren't " world class ", and that shows here and there. But it's still quite an effective and largely successful effort, imho.

I have found at times that such an orchestra rises to the challenge and gives you a wonderful performance!

We have two world class orchestras here in Ohio (Cleveland and Cincinnati) and two (Dayton and Toledo) who are not considered to be "world-class," have performed world premieres, rarely heard works, as well as more regular repertoire on a very high level.

e.g. Some years ago the Dayton Philharmonic delivered a highly praised performance of Mass by Leonard Bernstein, and the Toledo Symphony played the Shostakovich Symphony #7 conducted by Maxim Shostakovich, who seemed particularly delighted at the end.

[Cato]

Some years ago, I wondered how the main theme from Bruckner's Symphony V ended up in American college football games.  Today, while "channel surfing," Mrs. Cato happened upon a college football game while a band was in the middle of the theme.

So, for newer members, I thought revisiting the conversation would be of interest! 

Does anyone know how the Fifth Symphony's theme from bar 55 ff. in the first movement by the cellos and violas (Nowak score, and a theme used later in the finale) came to be used by American college marching bands at football and basketball games? I was at a local high-school game on Friday, and the "pep band" started playing the theme from the Fifth Symphony!    I have heard college bands use it during games broadcast on television in the past 3 years or so.

It seems a "natural ostinato" phrase. It occurs very similarly in some popsong ("something nations army" is either the band or song name) and became a popular football(soccer) fan chant. At least, I think that is the phrase, I can't look it up right now.

I've never thought to compare Bruckner's duplet-triplet rhythmic signature with Seven Nation Army before...

https://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/recordingswbruckner/thewhitestripessev/


[flash=400,400]https://www.youtube.com/v/0J2QdDbelmY[/flash]

[Cato]

Some years ago, I wondered how the main theme from Bruckner's Symphony V ended up in American college football games.  Today, while "channel surfing," Mrs. Cato happened upon a college football game while a band was in the middle of the theme.

So, for newer members, I thought revisiting the conversation would be of interest! 

I should explain that this was a replay of a game from two years ago: as part of the Sahara of the Bozart, American television offers channels which replay old football games!   

[Cato]

From my (still unpublished) novel A Center of the Universe: a 12-year old musician is already a follower of all things Bruckner!

"...when Tom heard the Fourth Symphony of Anton Bruckner for the first time, a section of the symphony's first movement, bars 334 to 350, suddenly conjured forth an image of himself as a very small child watching a B-52 meander through the clouds on its way to the base.  Exactly why and how the music of a 19th-century Austrian composer should resurrect this memory in his soul remained a mystery that he often contemplated and marveled at.  Strange that such a death-dealing aircraft could be linked to the poetry of sounds!..."

[LKB]

From my (still unpublished) novel A Center of the Universe: a 12-year old musician is already a follower of all things Bruckner!

I can relate, since as a young boy l would frequently see B-52's in the landing pattern at the base where we lived during the 1960's.

( As an aside, the B-52H uses eight turbofan engines which can sound like a piccolo ensemble during takeoff and landing. Not very Brucknerian, but still oddly musical. )

[AnotherSpin]

From my (still unpublished) novel A Center of the Universe: a 12-year old musician is already a follower of all things Bruckner!

Turned on music many times during Russian night attacks. Not that it helps, but it distracts a little.

[Cato]

I can relate, since as a young boy l would frequently see B-52's in the landing pattern at the base where we lived during the 1960's.

( As an aside, the B-52H uses eight turbofan engines which can sound like a piccolo ensemble during takeoff and landing. Not very Brucknerian, but still oddly musical. )

I lived near Wright-Patterson AFB: they flew over our neighborhood seemingly every day!  Louder than thunder and from 5 miles away!

We could see F-80's, F-86's, F-104's (beautiful design, but apparently a nightmare to fly!), KC-135 tankers, and others.  Great fun, until you became conscious of their purpose!

Turned on music many times during Russian night attacks. Not that it helps, but it distracts a little.
 

A distraction from such an event is valuable.

[AnotherSpin]

A distraction from such an event is valuable.

Nothing really works.

[LKB]

I lived near Wright-Patterson AFB: they flew over our neighborhood seemingly every day!  Louder than thunder and from 5 miles away!

We could see F-80's, F-86's, F-104's (beautiful design, but apparently a nightmare to fly!), KC-135 tankers, and others.  Great fun, until you became conscious of their purpose!

As an Air Force brat, l was a fan of pretty much anything with wings, even after l was old enough to understand the reasons for such aircraft. ( When your dad flies and fights for your country, it can make all the difference... )

I was even smuggled aboard a B-52G by my dad's crew ( for maybe two minutes ) while it was on static display during an airshow. I was a skinny nine-year-old at the time and still remember my surprise at how cramped the aircraft interior was. 

[Cato]

Nothing really works.

That I can easily understand!  Best Wishes!

[Cato]

Although people do not usually choose the Symphony #1 as a favorite, it has been one of my top choices since 1966, when I heard the DGG recording with 😇 Eugen Jochum 😇 conducting.


Bruckner supposedly nicknamed it "Das Kecke Beserl i.e. The Sassy Maid."

I remember being instantly impressed by the energy of the work:  Movements I, III, and IV are full of excitement and drive!  And yet, the slower Second Movement is not to be ignored either. 

[Cato]

Although people do not usually choose the Symphony #1 as a favorite, it has been one of my top choices since 1966, when I heard the DGG recording with 😇 Eugen Jochum 😇 conducting.


Bruckner supposedly nicknamed it "Das Kecke Beserl i.e. The Sassy Maid."

I remember being instantly impressed by the energy of the work:  Movements I, III, and IV are full of excitement and drive!  And yet, the slower Second Movement is not to be ignored either. 

I should mention that the work's music occurred to me today, while I was home and doing something demanding a diversion! 

So I listened mentally, as cranking up the stereo was not an option!  😇

[vers la flamme]

Happy 199th to the master. I'll be listening to something of his today.

[DavidW]

I'm thinking the third symphony with Skrowacezski.  Either that or the masses with Jochum.

[brewski]

For the birthday boy, listening to the Eighth in a few hours, live from the Proms, with Semyon Bychkov conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. (For those who miss the broadcast, it will be archived.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001q158

-Bruce

[Cato]

For the birthday boy, listening to the Eighth in a few hours, live from the Proms, with Semyon Bychkov conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. (For those who miss the broadcast, it will be archived.)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001q158

-Bruce

Thanks for that link!  Semyon Bychkov conducting Bruckner should be interesting!

I'm thinking the third symphony with Skrowaczewski.  Either that or the masses with Jochum.

Excellent choices: if you have time, why not both?   

This morning I spent an excellent 5 minutes and a half with the Os Iusti:

Later, I hope to hear this performance:

[LKB]

I'll celebrate with the Seventh later, it was my introduction to symphonic Bruckner back in 1977 during my first stint at Tower Records.

At the risk of re-posting, here's a nice plug for both the birthday boy and the RCO:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/25/bruckner-nine-symphonies-review-concertgebouws-early-gift-is-a-conducting-masterclass

[Lisztianwagner]

I'll celebrate with the Seventh later, it was my introduction to symphonic Bruckner back in 1977 during my first stint at Tower Records.

At the risk of re-posting, here's a nice plug for both the birthday boy and the RCO:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/25/bruckner-nine-symphonies-review-concertgebouws-early-gift-is-a-conducting-masterclass

Thanks for posting, it looks a great set!

The 7th Symphony, along with the 3rd, was my introduction to Brucker as well, such a powerfully impressive work; I'm tempted to celebrate the great Austrian composer with the 7th too, but to diversify, I'll choose the 9th.