The Cambridge Companion to Bruckner

Sixteen essays by leading experts provide an introduction to Bruckner's life and works in all genres.

John Williamson (Edited by)

9780521008785, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 15 July 2004

328 pages, 3 tables 36 music examples
24.6 x 17.5 x 1.8 cm, 0.544 kg

This Companion provides an overview of the composer Anton Bruckner (1824–1896). Sixteen chapters by leading scholars investigate aspects of his life and works and consider the manner in which critical appreciation has changed in the twentieth century. The first section deals with Bruckner's Austrian background, investigating the historical circumstances in which he worked, his upbringing in Upper Austria, and his career in Vienna. A number of misunderstandings are dealt with in the light of recent research. The remainder of the book covers Bruckner's career as church musician and symphonist, with a chapter on the neglected secular vocal music. Religious, aesthetic, formal, harmonic, and instrumental aspects are considered, while one chapter confronts the problem of the editions of the symphonies. Two concluding chapters discuss the symphonies in performance, and the history of Bruckner-reception with particular reference to German Nationalism, the Third Reich and the appropriation of Bruckner by the Nazis.

Chronology
Part I. Background: 1. Introduction: a Catholic composer in the age of Bismarck John Williamson
2. Musical life in Upper Austria in the mid-nineteenth century Andrea Harrandt
3. Bruckner in Vienna Andrea Harrandt
Part II. Choral Music: 4. Bruckner's large sacred compositions Paul Hawkshaw
5. Bruckner and the motet A. Crawford Howie
6. Bruckner and secular vocal music A. Crawford Howie
Part III. The Symphonist: 7. The Brucknerian symphony: an overview John Williamson
8. Bruckner's symphonies - a reinterpretation: the dialectic of darkness and light Derek B. Scott
9. Programme symphony and absolute music John Williamson
10. Bruckner editions: the revolution revisited Benjamin M. Korstvedt
11. Bruckner and the symphony orchestra Julian Horton
12. Between formlessness and formality: aspects of Bruckner's approach to symphonic form Benjamin M. Korstvedt
13. Formal process as spiritual progress: the symphonic slow movements Margaret Notley
14. Bruckner and Harmony Kevin Swinden
Part IV. Reception: 15. Conductors and Bruckner John Williamson
16. The musical image of Bruckner Christa Brüstle.

Subject Areas: Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], Music [AV]