Anton Bruckner, Eleven Symphonies (The Bruckner Red Book)

Description

Nothing engages most Bruckner lovers more than the different versions of e symphonies-and rightly so, for the changes and revisions Bruckner made in many of these works are truly fascinating. The profusion of versions can also present a puzzling, even mystifying picture to the interested listener, scholar or student. Not only are the musical facts of the case, so to speak, both intricate and subtle, but for much of the last century scholars and critics have, more often than not, discussed these matters in ways that often cast more shade than light. William Carragan, my great Bruckner friend and Vice President of the Bruckner Society, has written this study with the express intent of dispelling this state of confusion by the seemingly simple expedient of presenting a detailed, objective account of each symphony, whether it exists in only one version, as do the Sixth and the Seventh, or in multiple variant versions, as with the Third and Fourth. Upon reading this study, however, it will become immediately evident that this task is far from simple, especially since Professor Carragan approaches it with great perspicacity. He is not at all interested in offering easy, categorical identifications of the "best" or "most authentic" versions. Rather he seeks to present a full picture of the revisions, modifications, and changes that Bruckner made to each of his symphonies. The result is a unique and enthralling picture of an exceptional musical mind at work across some three decades. X PREFACE Certainly, very few know the many versions of the symphonies as well as Professor Carragan does. The present volume offers abundant testimony to his profound knowledge of the symphonies, their versions, variants, and editions. His love for these works shines through on each page as well. If only a true expert can speak so knowledgeably, only a true enthusiast is able to enter into the spirit of these works in the way that he most certainly does. His discussion is illuminated throughout not only by his great musical acumen, but also his passionate belief in the exceptional quality of Bruckner's music and in the importance of what it has to say to every sympathetic listener. This book will repay close, thoughtful study. The inclusion of extensive musical examples in short score format, all painstakingly drawn up by Professor Carragan himself, as well as the audio examples of each and every one of them, make this study accessible to any interested music-lover. To paraphrase what Tovey once wrote of Bruckner's Sixth, read this book with reverence and with care, for the author means what he says and he is speaking of wonderful things. INTRODUCTION HOW TO TELL THE VERSIONS APART HOW TO USE THE QR CODES STRING QUARTET IN C MINOR (1862) OVERTURE IN G MINOR (1862) SYMPHONY INF MINOR (1863) SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN C MINOR SYMPHONY IND MINOR (1869) SYMPHONIC SK.ETCH (1869) SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN C MINOR SYMPHONY NO. 3 IND MINOR SYMPHONY NO. 4 IN E FLAT MAJOR, "ROMANTIC" SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN B FLAT MAJOR STRING QUINTET IN F MAJOR (1879) SYMPHONY NO. 6 IN A MAJOR SYMPHONY NO. 7 IN E MAJOR SYMPHONY NO. 8 INC MINOR SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN D MINOR READING the Analytical Tables ANALYSES OF ALL THE SYMPHONIES THE CARIS NUMBERS RESOURCES IN ENGLISH SOCIETY, DISCOGRAPHY, AND ARCHIVE FRANZ SCHALK SPEAKS OF BRUCKNER INDEX