CDLV. BRUCKNER, Anton: Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major

CDLV. BRUCKNER, Anton (1824-1896)

Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major (1875-6)
1. Introduction: Adagio -- Allegro
2. Adagio: Sehr langsam
3. Scherzo: Molto vivace
4. Finale: Adagio -- Allegro moderato
Münchner Philharmoniker
Sergiu Celibidache, cond.
(1:29:27)

First movement

This really sounds like someone creeping down the staircase:

A huge climax on A Major (can he get any further from the tonic?) and the texture thins until only a violin tremolo remains -- on A, then D. Of course, Bruckner immediately launches into a completely unprepared B-Flat Minor!

Next comes a second theme in F Minor, D-Flat Major

and back to F Minor:

and a third theme in D-Flat Major, jumping up a semitone from the quiet C Major chord:

Beautiful writing for brass:

Reduced:

Final bars:

Second movement

Lovely oboe; two-against-three rhythm:

and then a gorgeous string chorale:

Ending in a quiet D Major:

Third movement

Duplicating the exact same bass line from the previous movement, Bruckner opens this movement with a fast-moving motivic theme in D Minor:

The second theme -- still using the same bass line -- is slower with an arching melody which touches the third, fourth and fifth degrees of F:

Development, recap, and finally the Trio -- a third theme:

The Scherzo is repeated ...

Fourth movement

Opening exactly like the first movement:

An unusual fugal exposition. Note the staggered entrances (three bars, five bars, three bars):

This episode is based on the second theme of the Scherzo:

A third theme:

The exposition closes with another beautiful brass chorale, recalling the Dresden Amen:

This second clever fugue is unusually answered at the third (C to E); then D-Flat to A-Flat!

Both fugal subjects are presented simultaneously:

and again in the recap:

The symphony concludes, creeping its way back to the tonic, and concludes with tutti orchestral grandeur: