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2 • The German Citizen • March - April 2024 Anton Bruckner turns 200
Perspectives .
Perspectives . . . . . By Martin Ederer We can characterize the “Bruck‐

omposer Anton Bruckner ner Style” as both contemplative and
th
celebrates his 200 birthday
Minding our slogans Cin 2024. He stands as a ma‐ often complicated. His symphonies
tend to be long and typically de‐
th
By Martin Ederer jor figure among 19 century Aus‐ mand a listener’s full concentration.
e’ve encountered the slogans often enough on bumper stickers: trian symphonic composers. There is always a lot going on.
Teach tolerance! Coexist! Celebrate diversity! Make America Bruckner was born in Ansfelden Other characteristics include nods
WGreat Again! But what are these slogans really saying, and how near Linz. Bruckner’s father and to polyphony and contrapuntal
should we understand them? In and of themselves, the basic concepts here grandfather were both schoolteach‐ structure. Then there is the silence.
are solid. ers there; Bruckner’s father also was Few composers did so much with
In general, it is good to be tolerant and to give people benefit of the his first music teacher. Bruckner rests and grand pause and dynamic
doubt. Coexisting, ie. getting along, is also generally a good idea. Diversity immediately took to music and contrast. Often enough they are
is what makes life interesting. For German-Americans, what’s the point of learned the organ. After Bruckner’s juxtaposed against huge orchestral
being and sharing who we are if everyone is already just like us? Think of father died in 1837, Anton Jr., now outbursts. Small wonder the critics
how boring things would get very quickly. And who would want America 13, was sent off to the Sankt Florian struggled with his work.
not to be great…or at least not to continue to do well? Isn’t all of this more Augustinian monastery to become a Nazi Germany had no such trep‐
about processing reality properly and honestly on all sides? choirboy and continue his educa‐ idations. Much like the Nazi fasci‐
That’s a fundamental problem with slogans. Often they oversimplify tion. He was immediately taken Anton Bruckner wearing the nation with Wagner, the Nazi Party
complicated things and therefore distort reality. They can be more about with the massive organ there. He badge of the Order of Franz and even Hitler himself promoted
political agendas with self-serving motives than about doing some really received further organ lessons and Joseph (portrait by Josef Büche). Bruckner’s (secular) music and en‐
difficult homework on things. also violin lessons. Bruckner’s rela‐ uard Hanslick guaranteed him bad couraged its performance. By the
Take tolerance. To simply say tolerance is good with a full stop and no tionship with the monastery would reviews – even if some notable con‐ end of World War II, at least some
more clarification can logically lead us to some rather disturbing conclu‐ continue through his life. ductors defended and presented his Germans and Austrians had had
sions. Are we really to tolerate all sorts of evil? Are we to tolerate mon‐ Bruckner’s mother, meanwhile, works – usually suggesting revisions their fill of Bruckner. Fortunately,
strous political leadership, whether on the left or on the right? All sides of had other plans. She sent him off to and edits as they did so. A humble he never became the kind of polar‐
the political spectrum have their own lists of things that should not be tol‐ train to become a teacher. Here too Bruckner obliged, revising his izing figure that Wagner had be‐
erated. Could we at least agree that our definitions of tolerance really he excelled in his studies. His first works constantly, or simply stood by come. As a result his reputation
should not be the disingenuous blank check that the slogan suggests? The job as teacher in Windhaag thor‐ as they did the edits themselves. As grew more secure, something that
same can be asked about coexistence. Are we really to be asked to put up oughly mistreated him. Bruckner a result, we have numerous different evaded him during much of his life
with everything, no questions asked, in every situation? Throw the slogan never complained. Still one of his editions of most of his symphonies Bruckner, who died in 1896,
out there without any limiters, and that is precisely what it is telling us. superiors noticed Bruckner’s strug‐ and a whole complicated list of sym‐ now stands as a giant in the central
Chaos would quickly ensue. gles, and reassigned him to Krons‐ phonies, some without numbers at European symphonic tradition. If
Then there is the celebration of diversity. In the best German intellec‐ dorf an der Enns, where he re‐ all. you are not familiar with his works,
tual traditions (think Schiller and Herder), we should celebrate diversity! mained from 1843-1845. He also he deserves a listen.
But why then are people so serious, even angry, about our differences, managed to study more music there.
politicize them, and forget the joy that we actually could be getting from He also began composing works,
said differences? Agreed that there are problems everywhere, and that peo‐ mainly as a self-taught composer.
ple regularly hold each other’s differences against one another. Still, a bit of In 1845 Bruckner returned to
tolerance in how we approach diversity might best allow people to celebrate Sankt Florian to continue studies.
it and express it in numerous ways, not just in the way people who have In 1848 he was appointed as organ‐
placed themselves in charge of it say that we must. ist at the great monastery organ. He
Making America great again also raises questions. On the surface who also continued his studies. From
can be against that? But when in recent memory has America not been the mid-1850s into the late 1860s,
great, even if we have vigorously disagreed with its policies and direction? Bruckner continued his musical
One constant in American politics has been the political jeremiad that studies in Vienna and began com‐
America has descended in a morass of mediocrity, often enough contrary- posing more ambitious works,
to-fact. Perhaps America has slipped several times in recent history, but which included masses and a num‐
the fact that America manages to power through all that attests maybe bet‐ ber of symphonies. Through most
ter than anything else to America’s greatness. Granted, we should never of this time, Bruckner continued to
assume that American greatness will be forevermore, but do exaggerations work between Vienna and Sankt
and overstatements help, or mainly keep the pot boiling? Florian.
These are all things worth bearing in mind as we enter what will prob‐ Well into his 40s, Bruckner re‐
ably be yet another bizarre and contentious election year. Granted, the mained largely undiscovered. What
stakes are high. But let’s keep defining our terms carefully. Common was also becoming clear is that he St Florian's Priory, where Bruckner lived on many occasions during his
sense, fair play, mutual respect – and maybe most importantly a sense of had a contemplative side that craved life.
humor – are every bit as important as ideologies and slogans. the peace of the monastic setting. By
the 1870s, Bruckner had held posi‐ The views of columnists and letter writers do not necessarily reflect the
tions at the Vienna Conservatory views of the German Citizen. Letters to the editor are welcome at
German Citizen and also at the University. He also mail@thegermancitizen.com or by mail:
became famous as an organist, re‐ The German Citizen, 3620 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14215.
ceiving invitations to perform both
January - February March - April in Paris and in London. Despite
May - June July - August Bruckner’s reputation as an organ‐
Oktoberfest Guide ist, he composed no major organ
September - October November - December works.
Recognition for his symphonies
was much more elusive. In Vienna,
Bruckner found himself in the mid‐
dle of a huge conflict between the
groupies (?) of Johannes Brahms’
and Richard Wagner’s visions for
central European composition stan‐
dards. Bruckner admired Wagner’s
vision and works, although he could
not have been more different. Wag‐
ner was all about ego, scoring
women and in-your-face-every‐
thing. The German Citizen
In contrast Bruckner struggled
throughout his career with self-con‐ Published by Buffalo Standard Printing
fidence, an inferiority complex and 3620 Harlem Rd.
depression. Although he had a Cheektowaga, NY 14215
habit of falling in love with teenage 716-831-8013
girls that he taught, nothing came of mail@thegermancitizen.com
the infatuations except one un‐ Editor - Roger Puchalski
founded accusation and a subse‐ Consulting Editor - Martin Ederer
quent decision to avoid teaching fe‐ For Advertising Sales call:
male students. He was devoted to Michelle Kisluk or Steve Kroczynski
his Catholic faith. Many of his biog‐
raphers characterize him as an
unassuming man. January - February March - April
The Brahms faction that domi‐ May - June July - August
nated the Vienna music scene led by September - October November - December
leading Viennese music critic Ed‐