Ensuing thematic ideas include a highly poetic melody for the cellos and a chorale-like theme assigned to the brass. Bruckner s attention alternates from one theme to another over long spans of time, his exploration of each idea in turn taking on the quality of a loving meditation, but building to a tremendous climax shortly before the close. Only an expansive finale would not sound misplaced after such a slow movement as we have just heard. Accordingly, the symphony s closing chapter presents an epic journey through varied melodic ideas and far-flung harmonic terrain. Bruckner begins with a theme of tremendous power, given out by the brass over a pulsating ostinato in the strings.
Subsequent material includes a deeply tender theme for the strings and a solemn march.
At least one commentator has noted a resemblance between the initial subject and the Siegfried motif in Wagner s Ring operas. These two ideas do share a heroic character as well as a similar rhythmic profile, and soon there comes a brief cadential figure, featuring horn and clarinets, reminiscent of the Rhine motif from the same Wagnerian source. But more significant thematic references lie in store. Then, in the coda, Bruckner quotes themes from each of the previous movements. By this time, the music s manifold harmonic tensions have resolved finally and for good in the bright light of C major.