- Study Symphony
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. The Study Symphony is available in an edition byLeopold Nowak published in1973 .Criticism
Otto Kitzler did not consider this symphony to be particularly inspired, leading
Georg Tintner 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."
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 Shapirra with the
London Symphony Orchestra forEMI in1972 . The first recording available on compact disc, was byEliahu Inbal and theFrankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra on the Teldec label in 1991. Lasting 47 minutes, his recording appears slow compared toGeorg Tintner 's 37-minute recording with theRoyal 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.
External links
* [http://www.abruckner.com/discography/symphonyinfminorst/ Complete discography]
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