Austria: Bruckner Organ

This stamp was issued 26 April 1996 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). Bruckner was long associated with the St. Florian Abbey in Linz. The organ there is today lovingly called the "Bruckner Organ." The organ dates as far back as the 15th century. The current instrument was begun by Franz Xavier Krismann in 1770. At its completion then, the instrument had 74 ranks of pipes. Work continued over many years with several builders adding their imprint to the instrument. It currently has four manuals plus pedal and includes nearly 100 ranks of pipes.