Master of the Late Romantic Era: A Collection of Piano Works by Anton Bruckner

The People of Styria WAB 122Anton Bruckner

Bruckner, Anton (c. 1850): Steiermärker, WAB 122 — Francesco Pasqualotto

Anton Bruckner, a master of the late Romantic era.

Though he is renowned for his monumental symphonies and masses, he also left behind approachable piano miniatures.

Composed around 1850, The People of Styria is a character piece based on folk songs from southern Austria.

Its lively, folk-like melodies convey Bruckner’s affection for his homeland.

Despite its simple structure, the music’s warmth offers a charm distinct from his large-scale works.

A hidden gem by Bruckner that I’d recommend even to newcomers to classical music.

Piano Piece in E-flat major, WAB 119Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner – Klavierstück in E-flat Major, WAB 119

Piano Piece in E-flat major, WAB 119 is a work composed in 1856 by the great Austrian composer Anton Bruckner.

With a performance time of about one minute and thirty seconds, it is very short and stands apart from Bruckner’s other large-scale works.

From this miniature, one can sense his inner sensitivity and delicacy.

As a piece in the public domain, it is one of the more approachable works among Bruckner’s piano compositions and seems well-suited for those who would like to try playing his piano music.

Fantasia in G major, WAB 118Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner – Fantasie in G Major, WAB 118. {w/ score.}

Anton Bruckner, an Austrian composer and organist, is one of the leading masters of the late Romantic era.

While Bruckner is best known for his symphonies and sacred music, he also left behind a small number of highly distinctive and emotional piano works.

Composed in 1868, the Fantasia in G major, WAB 118, is a rare example among Bruckner’s piano pieces.

This two-part work consists of a gentle, lyrical first section and a lively, powerful second, condensing the composer’s inner world into just about three and a half minutes of music.

It is a gem I highly recommend to anyone wishing to discover a new side of Bruckner.

Reminiscence in E-flat major, WAB 117Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner – Erinnerung, WAB 117

Many of Anton Bruckner’s works are characterized by their weighty grandeur and expansive length, yet he did, in fact, leave behind a small number of piano pieces as well.

Among them, Reminiscence (Erinnerung) is a relatively little-known miniature composed around 1868.

Within its roughly five-minute duration, Bruckner’s introspective and emotionally rich musicality is distilled.

Though it has no lyrics, the harmony, melody, and dynamics of the music itself vividly portray his deep emotional expression.

It is a gem I highly recommend not only to those familiar with Bruckner’s symphonies but also to anyone encountering his music for the first time.

Quiet Thoughts on an Autumn Evening WAB 123Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner – Stille Betrachtung an einem Herbstabend, WAB 123

Bruckner, the Austrian composer who represents the Romantic era, wrote a rare piano piece, “Quiet Thoughts on an Autumn Evening,” which is an approachable work recommended even for early to intermediate-level players.

Within its roughly four minutes, it distills a gentle, autumnal sentiment suited to an evening in fall, and it also carries nuances that faintly recall Chopin.

While the piece itself is relatively accessible, performing it with finesse—skillfully interweaving the right-hand melody with the left-hand accompaniment—does require a certain level of technique.

Piano works by Bruckner, renowned as a master of the symphony, are extremely rare and brim with the charm of revealing an unfamiliar side of the composer.