<\/p>\n
Is there a Bruckner problem?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s face it: The music of the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner is a tough sell, as his colossal, unhurried works require stamina on both sides of the proscenium.<\/p>\n
The Florida Orchestra presents a case in his defense with the Symphony No. 4, known as the Romantic, in two masterworks programs Feb. 6-7 at the Straz Center in Tampa. Music Director Michael Francis also conducts Beethoven\u2019s Triple Concerto.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are always nervous about Bruckner, but the Fourth is so beautiful, and when you hear it live, it\u2019s intoxicating,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cWhat makes Bruckner so unique is he connects the ancient and modern worlds, and probably better than anyone. When you let the sound wash over you, it\u2019s one of the most mesmerizing experiences in music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why then, does Bruckner challenge so many listeners and performers? Aside from the sheer length and density of his nine symphonies, they require constantly swirling string tremolos, protracted brass lines that seem to deplete a player\u2019s lungs, and vast crescendos of oceanic dimension. This can be daunting for those trying to make it all seem effortless.<\/p>\n
\u201cI admit I love playing Bruckner \u2014 an unusual statement for a string player,\u2019\u2019 said principal second violinist Sarah Shellman. \u201cAs a result of the massive architecture, a musician really needs to pace their concentration and physical output.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Performers say Bruckner demands intense focus over long stretches that can lead to muscle fatigue. For this reason, rests at much-needed intervals are critical. The brass and woodwinds also employ staggered breathing, inhaling at different times to keep a phrase cohesive and unbroken. This affects orchestral dynamics as well, when everyone jumps from playing pianissimos (very quiet) to triple fortes (extremely loud) at a moment\u2019s notice throughout four movements.<\/p>\n
\u201cBruckner writes very well for the brass and the parts are gratifying to play,\u2019\u2019 said Andrew Karr, who plays principal horn. \u201cAn important challenge for the brass section as a whole is to not wallow too much in the glorious sound but to make sure that the music still has horizontal momentum. It’s easy to get stuck in loud chords.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Aside from such technical concerns, players say it\u2019s important not to \u201cread\u2019\u2019 too much into Bruckner, as his symphonies carry no literary theme or program. The music is absolute, and not tied to an extra-musical description.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis symphonies are best understood architecturally and not programmatically,\u2019\u2019 Karr said. \u201cThey don’t tell stories; they\u2019re giant, detailed architectures, like a cathedral. But every small piece contributes to a logical, unified whole.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The globe-hopping conductor Daniel Barenboim, a long-time advocate, said the more he performs Bruckner the more it mirrors a dig for musical artifacts: \u201cI feel every section, especially in the late symphonies, is like going deeper and deeper underneath the earth,\u2019\u2019 he told National Public Radio. \u201cAnd then you\u2019re at the bottom and left with some incredible result of an archaeological excavation.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
When planning a program with Bruckner on the bill, orchestras have another consideration: what version to play, as the composer was forever altering his work. This constant tweaking became known as the \u201cBruckner Problem,\u2019\u2019 a term coined by the musicologist Deryck Cooke to describe the complexities of multiple (and confusing) versions of the composer\u2019s scores. Bruckner suffered from an obsessive-compulsive disorder and shortage of self-confidence, and succumbed to those hoping to \u201cimprove\u2019\u2019 his scores.<\/p>\n
“The result of such advice was to awaken all the insecurity in the nonmusical part of Bruckner’s personality,\u2019\u2019 Cooke wrote. “Lacking all self-assurance, he felt obliged to bow to the opinions of his friends.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
For all the challenges and tweaks, Bruckner offers epic moments in the concert hall, his sound unique in the classical canon. While the experience demands perseverance, added Shellman, it rewards the commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s a lot like going for a long run: a steady and measured effort, just letting the experience unfold,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201cPatience is key, both with oneself and the music.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Kurt Loft is a journalist and music critic who has written for various newspapers, magazines and arts groups for more than 40 years. A member of the Music Critics Association of North America, he lives in St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Is there a Bruckner problem? Let\u2019s face it: The music of the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner is a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":140621,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[68318,68317,276,5168,135,137,136],"class_list":{"0":"post-140620","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tampa","8":"tag-anton-bruckner","9":"tag-florida-orchestra","10":"tag-hillsborough-county","11":"tag-straz-center","12":"tag-tampa","13":"tag-tampa-headlines","14":"tag-tampa-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140620\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}