jmc's classics
September fourth is the birthday of Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). Next year is going to be his 200th birthday. I hope that there will be commemorations of that event. He is mainly known for his symphonies. He wrote eight completed symphonies plus one unfinished symphony and two early symphonies. He also wrote one each String quartet, string quintet and one each short piece for sting quartet and quintet. I personally like his Third and Seventh Symphonies and his short piece for string quintet.
Bedrich Smeetna (1824-1884) was born the same year. He was a Czech composer. It is said that if Antonin Dvorak had not existed, Smetena would have been more famous. He is remembered for his tone poem The Moldau which is par of a six part cycle called Ma Vlast, Which means in English "My Fatherland". Like Dvorak his music is nationalistic in nature. At that time the Czech Republic was part of the Austria-Hungary Empire. I am not as familiar with his works. Antonin Dvorak's birthday is September Eighth. He is more famous than the two previous mentioned composers. Like Smetena, his music is also nationalistic in nature. Like Smetena he wrote operas. Most of the Czech operas from Dvorak and Smetena are not as famous as the Italian, French and German operas. Bruckner was Austrian and a lot of his music is nationalistic in nature. Especially in his symphonies. He was a devout Catholic and wrote a large number of religious music. He did not write any operas. There are a lot of anecdotes about Bruckner. It would take too long for me to write about them! a lot of his music to some people might seem boring. Personally I don't think it is boring. Like Gustave Mahler, his symphonies are long usually lasting over one hour. That may be too long for some people. In some of his symphonies, he wrote several versions and updates others. However they are all good and to some people his music might sound crude. His music could take some getting used to. If you listen to it much you can appreciate it. Mahler's music in my opinion is very similar to Bruckner in that you have to get used to it. I hope that in the coming few years there is a revival of both Bruckner and Smetena and that their music will be appreciated.
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