160 CultureShock! AustriaAnton Bruckner (1824–96)
Bruckner had served as an organist at the cathedral in Linz,
and came to Vienna at the age of 44. Bruckner’s main goal
in life was to write for God. In fact, many people referred
to him as ‘God’s musician’. He spent much time revising
his powerful symphonies and masses, which encompassed
great blocks of sound. He was best known, however, for his
improvisation abilities on the organ. Mahler was a great fan
of his and would often conduct his work.Gustav Mahler (1860–1911)
In his music, Mahler captured the stormy changes within
society and the monarchy toward the end of the 19th century.
He was interested in a new path for modern music and
experimented in polyphony—the immense use of sound—
and employed a wide variety of percussion instruments. As
a conductor, he brought discipline to the singers, musicians
and audiences. He also improved the position of the orchestra
pit so that the musicians’ lights
would not bother the audience.
After ten years at the Vienna
Opera House, he left for the
United States, tired of gossip
about rivals wanting to get him
out because of their anti-Semitism or their opposition to his
modernism. His talents were well received in New York City
where he became the New York Philharmonic’s conductor
until he died.Secession (1897–1918) Jugendstil and the
(1897–1918)
Jugendstil is a variation on art nouveau. The name is
derived from the periodical Jugend, which debuted in
Munich in 1896. It was a flattened, stylised form of the
abstract where designs were exuberant and jubilant, with
decoration and ornamentation outlining the figures. The
smallest element of graphic detail was as important as
the ground plan to establish a flow and movement to the
whole piece.Mahler composed nine
symphonies in the Romantic
style, including the Resurrection
Symphony and Symphony of a
Thousand.