Bruckner_ Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107 - II. Adagio. Sehr feierlich und sehr
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107, is one of the composer's best-known symphonies. It was written between 1881 and 1883 and was revised in 1885. It is dedicated to Ludwig II of Bavaria. The premiere, given under Arthur Nikisch and the Gewandhaus Orchestra in the opera house at Leipzig on 30 December 1884, brought Bruckner the greatest success he had known in his life. The symphony is sometimes referred to as the "Lyric", though the appellation is not the composer's own, and is seldom used.
In the 2018 article "The 20 Greatest Symphonies of all time" from BBC Music Magazine, this symphony is placed at the 20th position. Bruckner also holds the 13th place with Symphony No. 8.
The symphony has four movements:
Allegro moderato (E major)
Adagio: Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam (C♯ minor)
Scherzo: Sehr schnell (A minor) – Trio: Etwas langsamer (F major)
Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht schnell (E major)
Second movement (Adagio) was composed between January and April 1883. Bruckner began writing it in anticipation of the death of Richard Wagner, who was in poor health. The movement features four Wagner tubas, which was their first appearance in a symphony.
A contrabass tuba is also present. The second part of the movement, beginning in F♯ major, has a tune that Bruckner specialist Georg Tintner described as such: "If I could describe what makes Bruckner Bruckner to me, it is that tune. It is something which transcends ordinary sorts of feelings. You can't even say 'Is it jolly?' 'Is it sad?' 'Is it that?' 'Is it that?'. You can't say that with a late Beethoven tune either. It is above these things"
Legend has it that Bruckner wrote the cymbal clash at the climax of this movement upon hearing the news that Wagner had died. By way of contrast, Williman Mann states that "at the climax of the slow movement Nikisch persuaded Bruckner to add a cymbal clash supported by a triangle; later this addition to the manuscript was marked 'invalid' – but not in the composer's hand, so who was the purist?"
This movement was played on Nazi German radio on 31 January 1943 following the German defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad and, after music by Richard Wagner, preceding the announcement on 1 May 1945 of Hitler's death the day before.