2021 marks the 125th anniversary of Bruckner's death, which occurred on 11 October. Since 1868 Vienna was the focus of his work and the basis of his successes, even though he never abandoned his rustic nature. At the same time, he never felt truly connected to the Viennese academic society. Above all, his efforts were directed to his students, his Gaudeamus, who, in return, adored him and loved his unvarnished manner. Beside his firm confidence in dedicating all his energy to composing, he always remained the convincing village schoolmaster, even at university. In this very period, a fundamental change of the University as a corporation to a modern scientific institution took place. Bruckner paid the highest respect to representatives of sciences and humanities and showed a profound and exuberant humility towards them. However, he knew how to use influential circles or individual persons for his own aims. Teaching at the university was his bread-and-butter job and the social basis for his career as a composer. Bruckner's highest honour was the honorary doctoral degree in philosophy so to speak as an academic recognition of his musicology. This meant more to him than any honour of the Emperor.