Bruckner's musical roots reach back to Palestrina , to Bach, to Beethoven and Schubert, and his formal outlook is fashioned by the baroque of St. Flrian and by the gothic of the Stadtpfarrkiche in Steyr and later of Stephansdom to Vienna. His music contains passages of the deepest mysticism, yet he was no mystic. It has been said that each of his symphonies is in reality one gigantic arch which starts on earth in the midst of suffering humanity sweeps up towards the heavens to the very Throne of Grace, and returns to earth with a message of peace.