Il sosia di Dio — Anton Bruckner: una cosmologia in 36 movimenti sinfonici — Alessandro Zignani

Il sosia di Dio. Anton Bruckner: una cosmologia in 36 movimenti sinfonici by Alessandro Zignani is a critical and narrative portrait of one of the nineteenth century’s most enigmatic composers. The volume traces Bruckner’s life and artistic development, connecting his personal experience, Vienna’s musical world and the creation of his major symphonies.

The book

From his work as an organist and teacher in Linz to his move to Vienna, Zignani reconstructs the path that led Bruckner towards a monumental musical language, suspended between tradition, devotion, Wagnerian fascination and a vision of the future. The result is the portrait of a reserved, unwittingly revolutionary composer, often at odds with the taste and institutions of his time.

A cosmology in 36 symphonic movements

The volume is divided into two parts. The first examines the composer’s life and the general features of his work; the second offers an alphabetically arranged lexicon of thirty-six entries that guides the reader through the symphonies, their themes and their main historical and cultural references. The book combines music scholarship, biographical narrative and a guide to listening.

Alessandro Zignani

Born in Rimini in 1961, Alessandro Zignani has published more than forty books, including essays, novels and plays. A Germanist, he has translated Nietzsche, Trakl, Schopenhauer and the Nibelungslied; he teaches Music History.

Bibliographic details

• Title: Il sosia di Dio. Anton Bruckner: una cosmologia in 36 movimenti sinfonici
• Author: Alessandro Zignani
• Publisher: Manzoni Editore
• Year: 2023
• Language: Italian
• Pages: 308
• ISBN: 979-1280635211
• Format: printed book

Manzoni Editore

The volume is part of the Manzoni Editore music books and non-fiction selection available from Reference Music Store.