I never considered Brahms and Bruckner close together until I just happened
to listen to each of their fourth symphonies over the long week-end. The
slow Allegro in Brahms Fourth approaches the transcendent, solemn forces
that Bruckner seems to evoke. I still don't think Brahms and Bruckner
were twin sons of different mothers, but they seemingly come pretty close
in these two symphonic works.
Mark