How's Your Math?

 

Classical Music has a definite numbering problem.

Numerical order by publishers is, more often than not, not chronological. Dvořák's catalog is a mess and the symphonies of Mendelssohn are not numbered from early to late, for just two small examples. Don't even get started on Schubert and his symphonies.

Well, here we have Anton Bruckner's Symphony no. 0. The fact it is preceded by Symphony no. 00 shows peculiarities right off the bat. To make matters worse, though, carbon dating Symphony 0 has found it actually lies between Bruckner's Symphonies 1 & 2 chronologically.

But no one is here for a gripe regarding numbering. Whereas Bruckner's Study Symphony was more reliant on past masters of the symphonic genre, the composer is making his way towards an individual sound and style in his 'Nullte' Symphony.

I love the lightly trenchant march under sustained strings opening the first movement; it is full of so much character. In a similar manner, the second-movement Andante (religioso) is beautifully hymn-like, with tons of pastoral wind moments. The third-movement Scherzo is not as manic or frantic as one might expect, but ably contrasted with the slow Trio.

Gerd Schaller's best attributes is in his pacing, always giving the listener a feeling of a pulse. At 11 minutes in the second movement, there is a forward flow which always seems at the precipice of sounding just too fast, but never quite gets there. This draws in the listener quite effectively.

It is only in the last movement where I feel Schaller treads a little too steadily on the Allegro side rather than Vivace. From Bruckner's side, the conclusion is oddly short compared to the larger front end of the symphony. Either way, the end is where we hear contrapuntal / imitative material from the composer, formed by an octave downward leap followed by an octave-and-a-third leap back up. That musical idea is both menacing and heroic, ably brought out by the brass here.

As with Symphony no. 00, where I thought the Philharmonie Festiva played with excessive beauty, I think they really get to the meat of this music without any undue haste, yet no phrase is left shapeless, but neither does anything sound fussy. In essence, Gerd Schaller has enough time for beauty as he does excitement, and marries the two together wonderfully.

I wish Symphony no. 00 and Symphony no. 0 were released in the same package. Both works time just under 45 minutes, making a single CD feel rather flimsy, regardless of these very excellent performances. In a simple 2CD set or single Hybrid-SACD format, I could already feel like I am not being bilked. Plus there is quite enough space across 2CDs to pair the Mass no. 3 in F minor and Psalm 146, which were recorded around the same time, with each symphony to fill out the recordings.

 

 

 

 

Work
Symphony 0 in D minor 'Nullte', WAB 100
    I. Allegro (15.33)
   II. Andante (11.30)
  III. Scherzo (6.29)
  IV. Finale (9.53)

Performers
Philharmonie Festiva
Gerd Schaller, conductor

Label: Hänssler / Profil
Year: 2015
Total Timing: 43.29

 

 

 

 

Another beautifully played and excellently paced early symphony from Gerd Schaller and the Philharmonie Festiva.

Now if I could have them together!