[Recommended] Carefully selected masterpieces by Bruckner, the great master of symphonies and sacred music

Quadrille Trousers: Andante con moto WAB 121Anton Bruckner

Quadrille, WAB 121: I. Pantalon. Andante con moto

When we think of Anton Bruckner, he is known as a master of the symphony, but in fact he also left piano pieces.

Andante con moto, one of the dances in a set titled Quadrille, is a short piece performed at a calm tempo.

It has an unusually light and bright character for Bruckner and is a piece that can be recommended even to beginners in classical music.

This dance set, consisting of six pieces, was written in 1854 when he was 29 years old.

Although each movement lasts no more than a minute and a half, they each display a distinctive character.

Why not sample Bruckner’s charm in an easy, approachable form?

Quadrille Hen: Amabile WAB.121Anton Bruckner

Quadrille, WAB 121: III. Poule. Amabile

Anton Bruckner is known as a master of symphonies and sacred music, but although few in number, he also wrote several piano pieces.

Composed around 1854, the Quadrille is a very approachable work.

Consisting of six sections and written for his own students, it is ideal for developing performance technique.

In particular, the movement “The Hen: Amabile” leaves an impression with its charming atmosphere.

While many of Bruckner’s works are demanding, this piece is one I can recommend even to beginners.

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.

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.

Cavalry Lancers’ Quadrille WAB 120 No. 2Anton Bruckner

Lancier-Quadrille in C Major, WAB 120: II. Allegro

A beginner-friendly piano piece by Anton Bruckner, Quadrille for Lancers.

Although Bruckner is known as a leading composer of the late Romantic era, he actually left some shorter, accessible piano works, and this is one of them.

Written in the 1850s for his students, it is a compact dance piece in four parts, featuring an appealing, lively sound that evokes Austrian folk dance.

Each part presents its own distinct melody and rhythm, offering a different character from his weighty symphonies.

It is a work that beginners to Bruckner should definitely explore.