[Recommended] Carefully selected masterpieces by Bruckner, the great master of symphonies and sacred music
Anton Bruckner, the Australian composer and organist renowned as a master of symphonies and sacred music.
In this article, we present some of his most widely celebrated works—pieces known for their weighty character and a pronounced religious tone that reflects his devout Catholic faith.
Please enjoy, along with videos and commentary, a selection of quintessentially Brucknerian works, rich in depth and evoking elegant, monumental vistas reminiscent of Austria’s abundant natural landscapes and the majestic Baroque churches.
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[Recommended] Carefully Selected Masterpieces by Bruckner, the Great Master of Symphonies and Sacred Music (31–40)
Symphony No. 7, Second MovementAnton Bruckner
Symphony No.
7 is regarded as the first of Bruckner’s symphonies to have a successful premiere and, alongside the Fourth, is one of his most popular works.
While composing the second movement, his beloved Wagner became critically ill; Bruckner continued writing with a premonition of Wagner’s death, and when Wagner passed away, he added a coda as a “funeral music” in his honor.
Symphony No. 9Anton Bruckner
It is the last symphony Bruckner worked on and was left unfinished when the composer passed away.
Even today, attempts to complete the fourth movement continue.
Overall, it is filled with richly bright timbres; the opening proceeds at a slightly brisk tempo, and from the middle it paints a beautiful, flowing, dance-like scene.
Toward the end, there is a quietly dreamy comfort, and it concludes in a rather understated manner.
The absence of unnecessary accelerations or decelerations is appealing.
Symphony No. 9, Movement IIIAnton Bruckner
Work on the piece began in August 1887, following the completion of the Eighth Symphony, but was interrupted by revisions to earlier works, and only in 1891 was he finally able to concentrate on it.
Pushing on through repeated illnesses and striving to complete it until just before his death, he left the symphony in three movements, lacking the fourth movement.
Cavalry Lancers’ Quadrille WAB 120 No. 1Anton Bruckner
Composed around 1850, Lancer-Quadrille, WAB 120 is a work for piano four hands consisting of six sections, incorporating lively dance elements based on the 19th-century social dance, the quadrille.
It offers a glimpse of a more casual and approachable side of Bruckner, distinct from the weighty impression of his symphonies, making it a valuable piece.
It’s also recommended for classical music beginners as a work that showcases Bruckner’s diverse talents.
Symphony No. 7Anton Bruckner
When it comes to Bruckner’s symphonies, the image of a “grand scale” and a “majestic finale” is firmly established.
This piece is no exception; performing all four movements takes over an hour.
A distinctive feature of this work is the use of Wagner tubas, and in the second and fourth movements one is enveloped by their unique harmonies.
Gradual: “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom.”Anton Bruckner
This is a piece of sacred music for mixed choir in four parts, composed in 1879.
It employs the Lydian mode, one of the church modes, and concludes with the Gregorian chant “Alleluia.” While it bears the characteristic sonic richness of Anton Bruckner, its pure and lucid resonance is particularly appealing.
Mass No. 1 in D minorAnton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was a devout Catholic and left behind a wealth of sacred music.
His Mass No.
1 is one such work, scored for mixed SATB choir and orchestra.
With its weighty yet warm character, it evokes the image of a stone-built church and a solemn mass.
Mass No. 2 in E minorAnton Bruckner
Composed to celebrate the completion of the new cathedral in Linz, Austria—the homeland of Anton Bruckner—this work consists of six movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei.
A mixed four-part choir powerfully sings lyrics praising God.
It is a magnificent work befitting a grand cathedral.
Psalm No. 150 in C majorAnton Bruckner
Composed for the opening ceremony of the Vienna International Exhibition of Music and Drama in 1892, it was not completed in time due to health issues and other reasons, and received its premiere in November of the following year.
With orchestra and organ as accompaniment, a mixed choir of men and women powerfully sings “Praise God” and “Hallelujah.” It is a captivating piece distinguished by its radiant melodies, as if filling every corner of space with light.
Update on the Germanic peoplesAnton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner had a deep love for male choral music and composed as many as forty choral works over his lifetime.
This “March of the Germanic People” is written for four-part male ensemble and brass instruments, and its powerful, dynamic character is especially compelling.
It was also Bruckner’s first published work.