jmc's classics
It is Labor Day weekend. It is also the birthday of two Antons : Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) and Anton Dvorak (1841-1904). My favorite works by Bruckner are his Third Symphony and Intermezzo for String Quintet. My favorite works of Dvorak are His Sixth symphony, Violin Concerto and String Serenade (Opuses: 60, 53 and 22). Bruckner's works are cataloged as WAB instead of opus. Both men were born in the Austrian Empire. Bruckner was Austrian. Austrians speak German. Dvorak was Czech which at that time was part of Austria.
Dvorak overshadows a lot of other Czech composers including Bedrich Smetena (1824-1884). Both men used Czech folk music as basis for their music. I like Richard Strauss's early symphony in F minor (Opua#12). It sounds somewhat like a Bruckner symphony. It dates from 1884. I am not sure what influence Bruckner had on either Strauss or Dvorak. I like Richard Strauss' early works better. Another great Third Symphony is that of Sibelius which is in C major (Opus#52). Sibelius was Finish. This symphony is in three movements instead of the standard four. It lasts about 30 minutes. The movements are: Allegro moderato, andantino con moto and Moderato: Allegro ma non tanto. I hope that things will start getting back to normal soon. This has been a strange year so far. I wonder what next will happen. Music is a good escape.
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