Adagio from Symphony no. 7 by Anton Bruckner arr. Jay Friedman

Performed by the Northwestern Trombone Studio
In Memory of Nancy Hinners
In January of 1883, Anton Bruckner mentioned in a letter to conductor Felix Mottl: "One day I came home and felt very sad. The thought had crossed my mind that before long the Master would die, and then the C# minor theme of the Adagio came to me.”
"The Master" who Bruckner refers to is Richard Wagner, whom Bruckner had idolized since beginning his compositional efforts. The two met in May 1865, when Wagner invited Bruckner to Munich for the premiere of Tristan und Isolde. Bruckner would go on to attend all of the premieres of Wagner's works, and dedicated his Third Symphony to his idol. The two would meet for the last time in 1882, during the premiere of Parsifal in Bayreuth. While Wagner told Bruckner then that he wished to conduct Bruckner's symphonies, he would not get the chance. Wagner passed away February of 1883.
The Adagio of Bruckner's famous Seventh Symphony is a work of love and care. Bruckner indeed idolised Wagner, and treasured their friendship. He referred to the coda of the movement, which begins gently but slowly builds into a massive send off, as "the funeral music for the master". Bruckner was a sensitive man, who held his friends in high regard; many of his letters were filled with thanks and gratitude for help friends and colleagues had given him. Bruckner's dedication for this music reveals the depth of his respect and gratitude for Wagner, whom he considered a mentor, friend, and advocate.
Knowing what this piece represents for its composer, we have recorded this arrangement to express that same respect and gratitude for Nancy Hinners, an advocate for all of the young musicians at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music. Nancy and Catherine Hinners have attended numerous student performances, ranging from solo recitals to chamber music performances to the productions by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. After these performances it was common to run into and speak with Nancy and Catherine together; they were always happy to talk about what they enjoyed from the performance they had just seen, and asking who would be part of the next performance they were planning to see.
Nancy Hinners will be dearly missed by all who knew her and had the pleasure to perform for her.
It is our pleasure to perform one final time for her.

[@catherinehinners2464]

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