First day of the commemorative stamp for the 200th birthday of Anton Bruckner

Master of music

Anton Bruckner was one of the most significant Austrian composers and organists of the 19th century. This year, he would have celebrated his 200th birthday.

Bruckner was born in 1824 as the son of a teacher in Ansfelden, Upper Austria, and learned to play the violin, piano, and organ as a child. In 1837, he became a choirboy at St. Florian Monastery; later, he worked there himself as a teacher and monastery organist. After completing his studies as an organist and composer, during which he became enthusiastic about Richard Wagner's music, he became the cathedral organist at the Old Cathedral in Linz. In 1868, he moved to Vienna, where he taught at the Conservatory and served as court organist. As an outstanding organist and improviser, Bruckner achieved great success, but his breakthrough as a composer only came with his Symphony No. 7 in E major from 1883. Symphonies were his great passion. Besides Symphony No. 7, Symphonies No. 4 in E-flat major ("The Romantic"), No. 8 in C minor, and the unfinished No. 9 in D minor are considered masterpieces. He also composed choral works, including the hymn "Te Deum", as well as chamber music, organ pieces, and piano pieces.

Throughout his life, he was plagued by self-doubt and fears. He was seen as an eccentric loner from the countryside; his works were considered difficult to play, but he was a good and popular teacher. Bruckner died in Vienna in 1896; his sarcophagus, according to his wishes, is located beneath the organ in the collegiate church of St. Florian. The stamp features a portrait of Bruckner by Ferry Bératon from 1889, which can be seen in the Wien Museum.

When?

4.09.2024, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Presentation at 10:00 a.m.

Where? Vöcklabruck Music School, Dr.-Alois-Scherer-Straße 9, 4840 Vöcklabruck

Group pictures Picture 1

Picture of presentation: © Stadtamt Vöcklabruck

Group picture, left to right:

Alfred Doloscheski (President, BSV Vöcklabruck), Karin Eidenberger (former deputy mayor), Martina Prinz (Head of Philately POS at Austrian Post), Gottfried Blank (President, BSV Gmunden) Judith Pichlmann (counsellor on cultural affairs), Peter Schobesberger (mayor)