BERGMANN CONDUCTS MOZART AND BRUCKNER
the Emperor . There was a general ideological divide between composers in late nineteenthcentury Germany , with those who wanted to advance musical radicalism aligned with composer Richard Wagner . Those who wanted to preserve a more conservative approach to composition generally sided with composer Johannes Brahms . Bruckner ’ s works , particularly his symphonies , were seen to be quite progressive , which warranted frequent and disparaging commentary from the Austrian music critic Eduard Hanslick .
Dedicated to Ludwig II of Bavaria and premiered in 1884 at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig , Bruckner ’ s Symphony No . 7 brought the composer great renown during his lifetime . Like most symphonies , the first movement is in sonata form , a structure in which the opening section ( exposition ) presents several themes in contrasting keys . The middle section of the movement ( development ) manipulates those themes , and the final section ( recapitulation ) resolves the tonal drama by restating the exposition ’ s themes in the home key . This
movement opens with the cellos presenting the first theme , which is a melody that Bruckner declared he heard in a dream and notated upon awakening . Throughout the development , many of the musical themes from the exposition are presented in inversion , a compositional technique where the contour of the notes in the melody is reversed .
Bruckner composed the second movement of this Symphony knowing that his colleague and friend Richard Wagner was in poor health . Indeed , the movement features four Wagner tubas , a four-valve tuba commissioned by Wagner that combines features of both the French horn and tuba . This was the first use of the instrument in a symphony ; Wagner had previously used them in his monumental opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen . Some reports indicate that Bruckner wrote the cymbal clash at the climax of the movement at the moment he learned of Wagner ’ s death . This movement is structured as a rondo , with the opening thematic music returning regularly and alternating with contrasting sections .
A lighter scherzo ( musical joke ) and trio follows the solemn second movement . The solo trumpet heralds in the first theme , and the movement is permeated with pulsating , jaunty rhythmic figures . Bruckner ’ s progressive musical ideals are particularly prominent in the final movement , which is written in “ arch ” or “ tragic sonata ” form . In this structure , the recapitulation of the movement presents the musical themes in the opposite order they are heard in the exposition . Additionally , the harmonic landscape stretches the bounds of tonality , with the exposition containing themes in three distantly-related keys . Despite the numerous disagreements concerning musical taste in the 1880s and the disparaging commentary by Hanslick , Symphony No . 7 continues to be one of Bruckner ’ s most beloved works .
Instrumentation Two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , eight horns , three trumpets , three trombones , one tuba , two cymbals , one triangle , and Wagner tubas in Movements 2 and 4 .
Follow A Leader … Become A Leader
Gerstell Academy ★ Leadership , Honor , Courage ★
Are you looking for a school that will inspire and motivate your child to reach his or her full potential in leadership , college preparatory academics , and physical training ?
Gerstell Academy provides a values-based education for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 that challenges each student to develop his / her full potential . Students enjoy art , music , physical education , technology , and competitive athletics — cross country , soccer , volleyball , basketball , wrestling , lacrosse , and baseball .
Ride the Bus ! Visit us on the web at www . gerstell . org . Call us at 410.861.4400
Ask us about scholarship opportunities ! Call today to R . S . V . P . for an Open House or to schedule a Shadow Day .
Gerstell Academy , 2500 Old Westminster Pike , Finksburg , MD 21048
FALL OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE Wednesday , November 15th 5 p . m . ★ Friday , December 8th 9 a . m .
NOV-DEC 2023 / OVERTURE 21