Anton Bruckner – Sheet Music & Scores

“They want me to write differently. Certainly I could, but I must not… How then would I stand there before Almighty God, if I followed the others and not Him?” Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Despite facing a lot of opposition due to his link with Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner proved to be one of the greatest symphonic composers of the 19th century. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all his magnificent works today!

His Childhood

Anton Bruckner was born in a suburb of Linz, Austria, where his father worked as a teacher. From an early age, Anton showed great musical talent, and by the time he finished school, he was already a highly accomplished organist. In 1837, Anton’s father died, and he was sent way to be a chorister at the Augustinian Monastery of St. Florian. Bruckner was impressed by the excellent, freshly restored organ in the monastery, and often played during services.

Salvation at St. Florian

In 1841, Bruckner’s mother sent him to Linz to study to be a teacher, and he graduated with excellent grades. In the following years, he struggled with desolate living conditions in various rural schools. Fortunately, in 1845, he was able to return to St. Florian, where he worked as a teacher and organist for the ten years.

From 1855, Bruckner began studying, mainly remotely by post, with some of the leading musicians in Vienna, particularly with Simon Sechter and Otto Kitzler. He continued his studies well until the age of 40, and it was at this age, that he began to write his great sacred and symphonic works.

Viennese Struggles

In 1868, Bruckner accepted a position as professor of music theory at the Vienna Conservatoire, and from 1875 he taught at the University of Vienna. However, as an strong supporter of Richard Wagner, Bruckner’s life in Vienna was anything but easy, and he even had to endure physical assaults because of his musical associations. It wasn’t until the age of 60, after the world premiere of his seventh symphony, that he made a name for himself as a composer. He was already very successful as an organist and improviser, and he gave many concerts in France, and on the new organ in the Royal Albert Hall, and Crystal Palace in London. Anton Bruckner is buried in the crypt of St. Florian, directly under his beloved organ.

His Music

Bruckner’s strong beliefs, and his calling as an organist, led to the solemn compositional style that characterises his music. In his symphonies, Bruckner draws on the instrumental abundance, and pathos of his role models Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, and the modern symphonic style of Gustav Mahler. He uses a is a lot of chromaticism, but also folk themes, and romantic motifs. In addition to the nine symphonies, Bruckner composed many sacred works, some of which are now part of the core repertoire for choirs all around the world. His most frequently performed sacred works include Bruckner’s Requiem, Bruckner’s Te Deum or Bruckner’s Motets. The Symphonies by Anton Bruckner are unique, because they are the only symphonies that can also be performed in the church.

More Bruckner Links

• Orchestral Works by A. Bruckner
• Piano Pieces by A. Bruckner
• Organ Music by A. Bruckner
• Choral Works by A. Bruckner
• Sacred Music by A. Bruckner
• Sheet Music Downloads by A. Bruckner