October 31st, 2008 A summary of Bruckner Sound

1. Beautiful harmony / suspension-resolution
2. Repeat and repeat
3. Sequence and sequence
4. Play it in major, and then play the same thing in parallel minor
5. High violin tremolos, or violin playing the melody at very high pitch
6. Viola + Cello playing a long, warm, dark melody together
7. Doubling of strings by woodwinds - like adding organ stops
8. Horns / trombones are either playing long pedal or sustaining chords most of the time. All brass play when it is dramatic moment
9. Regular phrase, and phrase quite often starts at downbeat (Elgar and Mendelssohn share the same regularity/stubborn-ness, while Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler are much more irregular in phrase and rhythm)
10. Almost always legato, staccato seldom appears except in scherzo.
11. Slow tempo dominates.