Study Symphony
Encyclopedia
Anton Bruckner
's Study Symphony in F minor, (Studiensymphonie), or simply Symphony in F minor, WAB
99, was written in 1863 as an exercise under Otto Kitzler's instruction in form and orchestration. Scholars at first believed that the next symphony Bruckner wrote was Symphony No. 0 in D minor
, thus this symphony is sometimes called Symphony No. 00 in F minor. In any case, musicologists are sure now that the next symphony Bruckner wrote after this one was Symphony No. 1 in C minor
. Together with the Linz version of Symphony No. 1, the Study Symphony was not written in Vienna like all Bruckner's other symphonies.
The score of the Study Symphony was given by Bruckner to his friend Cyrill Hynais, together with that of the Four Orchestral Pieces
of 1862 and the Overture in G minor
. It was not played in Bruckner's lifetime, receiving its first performance at Klosterneuburg in 1924. The Study Symphony is available in an edition by Leopold Nowak
published in 1973.
s, 2 oboe
s, 2 clarinet
s in B-flat, 2 bassoon
s, 4 horn
s (2 in F, 2 in B-flat), 2 trumpet
s in F, alto, tenor and bass trombone
s, timpani
and strings (basically just a tuba short of the scoring for symphonies 0 - 6), it is in four movements:
to "wonder whether he [Kitzler] had a good look at the Scherzo." Tintner considers the Finale of the work to be the weakest of the four movements.
Bruckner himself labelled it "Schularbeit." Biographer Derek Watson says that compared to the Overture in G minor, the F minor Symphony "is certainly thematically uninspired and less characterful," but that it does have "some moments of warm melodiousness and consistently fine if unoriginal scoring." Also, the score is quite lacking in dynamics and phrasing marks compared to Bruckner's later works.
On the other hand, taken on its own, it is a beautiful symphony, reminiscent of Schumann, Schubert, Weber and Mendelssohn, but also including some daring, highly inspired passages.
with the London Symphony Orchestra
for EMI
in 1972. The first recording available on compact disc, was by Eliahu Inbal
and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra on the Teldec label in 1991. Lasting 47 minutes, his recording appears slow compared to Georg Tintner
's 37-minute recording with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
on Naxos (which is padded with the "Volkfest" Finale of Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major
). Tintner skips the exposition repeats in the first and fourth movements, and occasionally dials down brass dynamics. Stanisław Skrowaczewski's 2001 recording with the Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra on Arte Nova/Oehms Classics last 36 minutes.
The scherzo has been transcribed for organ and is available on a Novalis CD.
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
's Study Symphony in F minor, (Studiensymphonie), or simply Symphony in F minor, WAB
Werkverzeichnis Anton Bruckner
The Werkverzeichnis Anton Bruckners is a thematic catalogue of the music of Anton Bruckner compiled by Renata Grasberger. Grasberger did not include any unfinished compositions nor lost works. Lost works, sketches, etc. were added afterwards...
99, was written in 1863 as an exercise under Otto Kitzler's instruction in form and orchestration. Scholars at first believed that the next symphony Bruckner wrote was Symphony No. 0 in D minor
Symphony No. 0 (Bruckner)
This Symphony in D minor composed by Anton Bruckner was not assigned a number by its composer, and has subsequently become known by the German designation Die Nullte .-Composition:...
, thus this symphony is sometimes called Symphony No. 00 in F minor. In any case, musicologists are sure now that the next symphony Bruckner wrote after this one was Symphony No. 1 in C minor
Symphony No. 1 (Bruckner)
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 1 in C minor was the first symphony the composer thought worthy of performing, and bequeathing to the Vienna national library. Chronologically, it comes after the Study Symphony in F minor and before Symphony No. 0 in D minor. The first version of the Symphony No. 2...
. Together with the Linz version of Symphony No. 1, the Study Symphony was not written in Vienna like all Bruckner's other symphonies.
The score of the Study Symphony was given by Bruckner to his friend Cyrill Hynais, together with that of the Four Orchestral Pieces
Four Orchestral Pieces (Bruckner)
When studying by Otto Kitzler, Anton Bruckner composed his first instrumental work, the String Quartet in C minor in 1862.Somewhat later in the same year, he tried his hand at purely orchestral composition...
of 1862 and the Overture in G minor
Overture (Bruckner)
In 1862-1863 Anton Bruckner composed the Overture in G minor .By contrast to the earlier Four Orchestral Pieces and the next Symphony in F minor, the Overture appears a much more mature work – really the overture to the mature Bruckner....
. It was not played in Bruckner's lifetime, receiving its first performance at Klosterneuburg in 1924. The Study Symphony is available in an edition by Leopold Nowak
Leopold Nowak
Leopold Nowak was a musicologist chiefly known for editing the works by Anton Bruckner for the International Bruckner Society. He reconstructed the original form of some of those works, most of which had been revised and edited many times.Nowak was born in Vienna, Austria. He studied piano and...
published in 1973.
Movements
Scored for 2 fluteFlute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
s, 2 oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
s, 2 clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s in B-flat, 2 bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
s, 4 horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
s (2 in F, 2 in B-flat), 2 trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s in F, alto, tenor and bass trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s, timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
and strings (basically just a tuba short of the scoring for symphonies 0 - 6), it is in four movements:
- Allegro molto vivace, cut time
- Andante molto, 4/4, E-flat major
- Scherzo, Schnell, 3/4, C minorC minorC minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The harmonic minor raises the B to B. Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with naturals and accidentals as necessary.Its key signature consists of three flats...
, with Trio, Langsamer, in A-flat major - Allegro, cut time, F minorF minorF minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. The harmonic minor raises the E to E. Its key signature has four flats ....
to F majorF majorF major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
Criticism
Otto Kitzler did not consider this symphony to be particularly inspired, leading Georg TintnerGeorg Tintner
Georg Tintner CM was an Austrian-born conductor whose career was principally in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada....
to "wonder whether he [Kitzler] had a good look at the Scherzo." Tintner considers the Finale of the work to be the weakest of the four movements.
Bruckner himself labelled it "Schularbeit." Biographer Derek Watson says that compared to the Overture in G minor, the F minor Symphony "is certainly thematically uninspired and less characterful," but that it does have "some moments of warm melodiousness and consistently fine if unoriginal scoring." Also, the score is quite lacking in dynamics and phrasing marks compared to Bruckner's later works.
On the other hand, taken on its own, it is a beautiful symphony, reminiscent of Schumann, Schubert, Weber and Mendelssohn, but also including some daring, highly inspired passages.
Discography
The first commercial recording, and apparently the first modern performance, was made by Elyakum ShapirraElyakum Shapirra
Elyakum Shapirra is an Israeli conductor who has appeared in a number of countries. He studied with Leonard Bernstein, becoming one of his assistant conductors at the New York Philharmonic...
with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
for EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in 1972. The first recording available on compact disc, was by Eliahu Inbal
Eliahu Inbal
Eliahu Inbal is an Israeli conductor.Inbal studied violin at the Israeli Academy of Music and took composition lessons with Paul Ben-Haim...
and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra on the Teldec label in 1991. Lasting 47 minutes, his recording appears slow compared to Georg Tintner
Georg Tintner
Georg Tintner CM was an Austrian-born conductor whose career was principally in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada....
's 37-minute recording with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
on Naxos (which is padded with the "Volkfest" Finale of Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major
Symphony No. 4 (Bruckner)
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major is one of the composer's most popular works. It was written in 1874 and revised several times through 1888. It was dedicated to Prince Konstantin of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. It was premiered in 1881 by Hans Richter in Vienna with great success...
). Tintner skips the exposition repeats in the first and fourth movements, and occasionally dials down brass dynamics. Stanisław Skrowaczewski's 2001 recording with the Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra on Arte Nova/Oehms Classics last 36 minutes.
The scherzo has been transcribed for organ and is available on a Novalis CD.