A Bold and "Saucy" Symphony

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On January 9th at 4 PM at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, the MusicaNova Orchestra will perform a program that includes the 6th Symphony of Anton Bruckner-as far as I can tell, the first public performance of this masterpiece in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Of this work Bruckner said "die Sechste ist die Kechste"-the sixth is the boldest, or most audacious, (or "sauciest") of his Symphonies. It certainly is bold, but many performances underplay the "saucy" part. It has a lightness, a flirtatiousness that is unique to it, and I really want to play up that part of its character. A great deal of that character comes from the wonderful metrical ambiguity of the first movement. The movement is in two, but each half-and at times even each quarter note beat-dance between duple and triple meter, and he often plays both at the same time. The effect is wonderfully saucy-but only if you do it at the right speed! Far too many performances are too slow, and in fact many conductors do this movement in 4,which completely robs it of the swing that I hear in it. The character completely changes at a slower tempo and quite frankly, I do not think it works. For my part, I think that if Bruckner had wanted it in 4, he was perfectly capable of telling us that up front. I think his odd tempo indication-"Majestoso", majestically, might tempt people into a too slow tempo too.

Despite the first movement problem, I think the real reason for the comparative neglect of this piece is that the last movement is hard to pull off. The first three movements-as long as you are not too slow-are brilliantly and naturally coherent, and extremely beautiful. I think the end of the slow movement, with its gorgeously audacious harmonies is one of the most perfect moments in all Bruckner's music. (side note: Bruckner should really be given more credit for his astonishing compositional technique. No one had a better and more natural command of the possibilities of common practice harmony. All those years with Sechter paid off.)

As for the last movement,remember, this is the bold and saucy Symphony. Too slow and that character is lost. The very overtly sectional character means there is definitely a danger of bogging down in this movement, but it is also rhythmically vital and exciting, and if we were less afraid of making Bruckner fun, I think there would be more performances of this wonderful work. Truly, everyone should be smiling at the way he brings everything together-in a most audacious way-for the conclusion of the piece.