Why Listen to Bruckner?

On the life, epic music, and strangeness of Anton Bruckner. Including excerpts from his Te Deum, Mass in F minor, Symphonies nos. 4, 8, and 9, and more!

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Script by Yan Xing Lee
Voiceover by Oscar Osicki
Edit by Eddie Muniz

0:00 - Introduction
1:20 - Early Life
2:16 - Influences
3:03 - Bruckner's Strangeness
4:03 - His Academic Excellence
4:38 - First Major Works
5:20 - Why Listen, Reason #1
7:08 - Why Listen, Reason #2
8:24 - Why Listen, Reason #3
9:02 - Why Listen, Reason #4
11:38 - Bruckner's Legacy

[threethrushes]

As the curator of a museum dedicated to Bruckner, this makes my heart sing!

[PlausibleColt]

I really love the "Why listen to..." series, keep up the great work !!

[IsaacMeadow]

The 8th is the most monumental symphony I've ever heard, it could easily represent the vastness of the universe.

[andreyandreiko]

I started listening to Bruckner because of the epicness, but really became fascinated because of the beauty of his pieces

[luisfelipegoncalves]

For god''s sake man, thanks for finally giving this composer some love, I really thank you for that

[danielmasonmusic]

Words can't describe my love for Bruckner's music. Thanks so much for this!

[NathanielByers]

The single most underrated composer of the romantic era.

[petercroft]

What an excellent article. At age 76, I'm pretty familiar with most classical music but Bruckner always bypassed me. I'm inspired now to pay attention . Thank you.

[sybcnoops]

Bruckner is and will always be one of my favourite composers, I absolutely love his 7th and 9th symphony. And I’m glad I’ve heard his 9th live, what a monumental though beautiful work!

[liauchungren]

I'm a dedicated, fanatical Bruckner lover. This exciting documentary of fervent praise for my beloved Master Composer just brought so much satisfaction to my heart. Thank you very much, it is so well done. Bravo!!!

[theodentherenewed]

One quality that I like to bring up when talking about Bruckner symphonies is slowness. The sound progresses slowly no matter the tempo of interpreters, it's there by design. And that's why some people say that they get bored - it takes patience to listen to these works. Personally, I love them and for me, it's a pinnacle of symphonic music. The end of the road is the more impressive, the longer it took to get there - that's the general idea behind Bruckner's musical constructs.

[erika]

The humility. The vulnerability. The frightening. The angst. The beauty. And yes. The epic.

[Overlycomplicatedswede]

I’m a bass trombonist and I’ve played bruckner 8 irl and bruckner is a monster when he writes for brass
It’s so violent and epic but sounds beautiful when played right
Love from Sweden

[carlooliverolayta]

My favourite composer! I really love his finales, especially the 8th Symphony.

[Genpinan]

I knew next to nothing about Bruckner, but the obvious enthusiasm of the speaker made me feel truly interested in him.
Great video.

[brendanward]

One of my musical heroes. Hearing Eugene Ormandy's 1965 recording of the Fifth Symphony with the Philadelphia Orchestra made me an instant disciple.

[Adeodatus]

If there's one piece of music that really steered me to a life of passionate love for classical music, it's Bruckner's 6th symphony. Klemperer's recording with the New Philharmonia, to be precise. It was my "Wow, nobody told me it could do _that!_ " moment.

[johnchessant]

I love the ending sequence of the first movement of Bruckner 6

[therobin]

I was lucky enough to have attended a Vienna Philharmonic performance of his 7th at the Wiener Musikverein Golden Hall. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life.

[guilhermecardoso]

I love how Bruckner's symphonies sound like epic space explorations, the cathedral-like open space of his soundscapes is probably what does it for me. The nebulas and alien worlds in the intro are very fitting :). He was definitely THE big influence behind epic space movie soundtracks. I think that's where my association comes from.