Anton Bruckner
Anton
Bruckner was an Austrian romantic organist and composer of nine symphonies, four masses and a Te Deum.
He was born in Ansfeleden, Austria, and died in Vienna.
He trained as a
schoolteacher in Linz, and spent 14 years as a teacher, the last 10 of these in
St Florian, where he also played the organ and composed masses for the church
there. In 1855 he was appointed organist at Linz cathedral, so he ceased to be a
schoolmaster, and was able to concentrate on composition.
In 1868 he moved
to Vienna, where he had a post at the conservatory of Music, and also lectured
in harmony and counterpoint at the University of Vienna. Here he
concentrated on his symphonies. Gustav
Mahler became one of his young 'disciples' and in later years, promoted
Bruckner's symphonies to the musical world.