Perspectives on Anton Bruckner

This collection of essays offers diverse theoretical and musicological perspectives on Bruckner the composer, teacher and performer. It explores his theoretical training and his application of it as part of the compositional process.

A century after his death Anton Bruckner still remains one of the most complex and enigmatic creative personalities of the nineteenth century. A leading avant-garde figure of his generation, he was an accomplished performer and teacher in addition to being a great composer; few people in the history of western music can boast his level of achievement in all these areas combined. This book, a collection of essays written by an international group of scholars, offers diverse theoretical and musicological perspectives on Bruckner the composer-teacher-performer. Facets of his formidable theoretical training and his application of it as part of the compositional process are explored. A variety of analytical methodologies is used to examine the Second through to the Ninth Symphonies, the heart of the composer’s mature repertoire. Finally, aspects of Bruckner’s career as a teacher and performer, his complex personality, his influence and dissemination of his music are considered.