Classical music

[mercarina]

Was Bruckner the first compose to write music for large orchestras

[NH]

Yes! Something to research for the hell of it!

It depends on what you mean by "large" as the size of an orchestra seemed to expand constantly up to the 20th Century. It seems that those leading the charge were Berlioz (the Requiem needed twenty woodwinds and around forty brass) and Wagner (Das Rheingold needing eight harps).