Anton Bruckner, composer

Born: September 4, 1824 in Ansfelden, Austria

Died: October 11, 1896 in Vienna

Education: began musical training as a child, but later attended school at the Monastery at St. Florian where he studied violin, singing, and organ; after dabbling in schoolteaching, was appointed the organist in Linz when he began studying with Viennese thoerist Simon Sechter; later studied orchestration with Otto Kitzler

Wagner: after being introduced to Wagner’s music by Kitzler, he continued to cultivate his knowledge of and admiration for the composer, who he came to refer to as the “Meister aller Meister”

Works: Missa solemnis, Festkantate, Mass in E minor, Ave Maria, Mass in D minor, Symphony no. 1 in C minor, Mass in F minor, Locus iste, Virga Jesse floruit, Symphony no. 5, String Quintet, Symphony no. 7

Performer: An accomplished organist, he became well known as an improviser at the organ; had a reputation as an international virtuoso, established by highly acclaimed tours to Paris and London