Who are the Bruckner Listeners and What do they Hear in Bruckner?

Despite the growing number of Bruckner recordings and performances, little is known about who the Bruckner listeners are and what they experience in his music. This talk explores these questions through a survey-based study involving approximately 400 participants from around the globe. Specifically, the talk will present data regarding the various demographic and personality characteristics of Bruckner listeners, the aesthetic emotions experienced during music listening reported by Bruckner listeners, and other Western classical music composers that Bruckner listeners appreciate. The study, thus, situates Bruckner’s music within the broader cultural and historical context of Western classical music, examining how contemporary listeners relate to his compositions compared to other composers. The talk will also examine how Bruckner listening is associated with day-to-day aesthetic experiences, including preferences for non-classical music and clothing. Additionally, interviews with prominent Bruckner conductors provide nuanced insights into interpretative variations of audience reception. As an exploratory study, the study provides a basic understanding of the perception of Bruckner’s music by audiences. In doing so, the study may provide blueprints as to the position the composer holds in the contemporary classical music scene.