Somebody posted at Symphonyshare a great recording that I been enjoying for 2 days. It is Eugen Jochum leads Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Among all the Bruckner 7 that Jochum recorded I think this is the earliest I hears and it is very very good, probably with exception of the third movement. The first two movements are beyond reproach. It was recorded by Telefunken in May of 1939

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VB310AKE

zako wrote:

After listening to Bruckner many many times,,  And professionally recording his compositions,, I am compelled to make this auwfull statement,,, I feel that he is a second rate composer,,,He,s done a large body of work,,But his overall statement,,,TO ME is repitisially boering,,,  I sat there looking at his score " the V11" (while recording) and thought he missed a good oppertunity,here, to rephrese and pull this symphony around and make it great,,,But he slips into his bad habbit of repitionally sliding back into the Bruckterian muck,,, I,m not trying to offend Bruckner followers here,,But just expressing my feelings,,,I wiil go down stairs and again audition The Sym,V11 today,,as a pennence. 

Yes, in way I agree that Bruckner is a “second rate composer”.  The common thinking in here is that Bruckner did not compose his 14 symphonies but composed one symphonies 14 times. The similarity of expressionism of cause is there. Still, I do not approach to stratification of my expressionism base ups the irrelevant rating. What does it mean the “second rate composer”, I mean we understand what it means but what benefit this knowledge has to us, to me to you? I can give you a long list of 8th rate composers that did something that I consider was brilliant and love endlessly. I can look at some music of the “first rate composers” – I would put Mahler in there for instance – that might not touch me as much as some other music might.

When I was young I was in love with a girl next door and I was running to date with her on n bicycle, I was inspired. Then, years later, I was dating women to whom I was driving the expensive BMW but I did not experience even a fraction of that enthusiasm. Does it mean that bicycle is better transportation then BMW?

I am sure that you know the answer. The answers are within us. The rating of composers according to their composing, expressive and orchestration power is a fascinating thing to do but it hardly makes any dent on my listening preferences. Bruckner IS the second rate composer but I truly can’t not get enough of him. Does it make me the second rate listener?  That is something that I absolutely do not care. One of the greatest accomplishments that I did in audio is my realization that the only person to whom I need to prove anything in audio (in audio?) is myself. The second rate? Who cares!

BTW, taking about great Brukner. Listening now the Volkmar Andreae’s Bruckner with Vienna Symphony Orchestra. To all Bruckner fans - here is a phenomenal Xmas gift:

http://nubespartem.blogspot.com/2010/12/bruckner-symphonies-1-9-te-deum-volkmar.html

zako wrote:

After listening to Bruckner many many times,,  And professionally recording his compositions,, I am compelled to make this auwfull statement,,, I feel that he is a second rate composer,,,He,s done a large body of work,,But his overall statement,,,TO ME is repitisially boering,,,  I sat there looking at his score " the V11" (while recording) and thought he missed a good oppertunity,here, to rephrese and pull this symphony around and make it great,,,But he slips into his bad habbit of repitionally sliding back into the Bruckterian muck,,, I,m not trying to offend Bruckner followers here,,But just expressing my feelings,,,I wiil go down stairs and again audition The Sym,V11 today,,as a pennence.

Two minutes for a self-contained sketch ... then onto the next hit!  And then the next ... and the next .... Whoa! - exciting stuff.
But Bruckner isn't like that - he is in it for the long haul, for the gradual deep development.  The spaciousness and spirituality of the vaulted cathedral rather than the snappy excitement of the discotheque.

Yes, as you may have guessed by now, I am a Bruckner fan.  Perhaps my favorite composer?  Certainly and without any doubt indespensible to my happiness in life.

unicon wrote:

Playing Bruckner I never can figure out which symphony I am hearing 1,2 ..7 (beside the symphony no 3, 8 lll)

JANDL100 wrote:

Yes, a great Bruckner conductor ….

clarkjohnsen wrote:

Actually it may be! At that time, and to some degree presently, the VPO had perhaps 250 members who played on a rotating basis; in fact a person didn't even have to attend the rehearsal to play in a concert. Those who weren't playing the VPO formed the basis of a rather large collection of other Vienna orchestras. Moreover, the VPO gives not too many concerts per annum, but they always play at the Staatsoper. Conclusion: You never know who you're hearing, of if the rehearsals even meant anything.