Anton Bruckner (1824 Ansfelden/Upper Austria - 1896
Vienna) composed the Mass in e minor (1866-82) for the
consecration of the Votive Chapel of the New Cathedral of
the Immaculate Conception in Linz. Since the cathedral
wasn't finished, the performance had to take place
outdoors. Bruckner made do without the organ and strings
and called instead only on wind instruments. The
musical example presents the opening of the
Gloria in which the phrygian melodie of the
soprano and alto choir continues the preceding intonation
of the priest. This melody is contrasted by a chordal
figure in the bassoon. (E. Stadler) Pictures: a) Glass
window of the Votive Chapel, b) Linzer Fenster
with Bruckner and Beethoven in the lower left third
of the window, c) large Rose Window of the Tower which
is dedicated to the Musica sacra (St. Cecilia as
the patron saint of church music, surrounded by the signs
of the zodiac as a symbol of the harmony of the spheres
and by angels with musical instruments.
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