Posted by Warren Malach on November 09, 19102 at 21:02:39:

Brucknerians please note that the November, 2002 issue of THE BRUCKNER JOURNAL is now out. For more information go to www.zyworld.com/BrucknerJournal/ for more information.
I have recently been enjoying listening to cds of the orchestral music of Felix Draeseke (1835-1913.) According to liner notes for one of the recordings, Draeseke was the only other symphonist besides Bruckner whom Brahms took seriously as a rival, even if, like Bruckner, Draeseke was identified in Brahms' mind with the Liszt/Wagner New German School because of Draeseke's early interest in the Lisztian tone poem as the symphonic form of the future. Anyway, I find in Draeseke a very personal symphonic style, which is more than I can say for other symphonists of the same period, who often sound like they were trying to pick up where Mendelssohn left off. Currently, MDG has recorded Draeseke's First Symphony with his Piano Concerto, and his Third Symphony with some single-movement works, while CPO has recorded the Second and Third Symphonies, also with some fillers, leaving only his Fourth Symphony yet to be brought to disc. For those who are interested in Wagnerian oratorio at its best, there is Draeseke's mive tetralogy CHRISTUS, which may also still be available on disc. I do not mean to imply that Draeseke was "Brucknerian" in his musical style, but I do believe that his orchestral music deserves greater recognition than it has received up to this time. If you are looking for a later-period Brucknerian symphonist, don't forget the three Symphonies of Richard Wetz, all of which are now available on CPO as well as Symphony No. 3 also being available on an earlier Sterling disc. Happy listening! --Warren Malach

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• Re: BRUCKNER JOURNAL and Felix Draeseke Ara A. 13:06:55 11/12/102 (0)
• Re: BRUCKNER JOURNAL and Felix Draeseke JohnKoehler 18:53:29 11/10/102 (0)

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