Festive Cantata (Bruckner)

To celebrate the laying of the foundation stone of the new Maria-Empfängnis-Dom (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) of Linz bishop Franz-Josef Rudigier asked Bruckner for a cantata. Bruckner responded enthusiastly with the composition of the Festive Cantata Preiset den Hern on a text of the theologian Maximilian Pammesberger. On the 1st of May 1862 the foundation stone was laid. To celebrate the event the cantata was performed by the choir Frohsinn, invited guest singers and members of a local regimental band.[1]

The Festive Cantata, WAB 16, is the first notable religious work, which Bruckner composes after his strenuous study period by Sechter. It will be followed one year later by Psalm 112 (1863), and again one year later by the first great mass, Mass No. 1 in D minor (1864).

Contents

Setting

The work is composed for male-voice choir, solo quartet, bass soloist, wind band and timpani, and organ ad libitum.
It is composed of eight short parts:

  1. Introductory choir: "Preiset den Herrn"
  2. Solo quartet and choir: "Thaue deine Kraft und Stärke"
  3. Bridging choir: "Preiset den Herrn"
  4. Bass soloist: "Aus der Erde Schooß"
  5. Solo quartet: "Das ist der Unbefleckten Haus"
  6. Orchestral intermezzo by the reed instruments
  7. Chorale: "Des Landes Stämme wallen fromm"
  8. Final choir "Preiset den Herrn"

As the Overture in G minor the solemn opening chorus starts with an octave-leap in unison. It thereafter evolves in a fugato on "Grund und Eckstein bist du, Herr". To bind the work together the chorus is repeated twice, in the third and eight parts.

Text

Preiset den Herrn,
Lobsinget seinem heiligen Namen!
Grund und Eckstein bist du, Herr
Deiner Kirche groß und hehr.
Thaue deine Kraft und Stärke
Über Fundament und Stein,
Die wir zu dem heil’gen Werke
Weihend senken ein.
Preiset den Herrn, Maria preiset
Ohne Mackel empfangen!
Aus der Erde Schooß
Wächst der Bau
Riesengroß
In des Himmels Blau.
Das ist der Unbefleckten Haus,
Drin öffnet sich die Gnadenquelle,
Und strömet reich und helle
Ins Land hinaus.
Des Landes Stämme wallen fromm
Aus allen Gauen zu dem Dom
Von unsrer lieben Frauen ;
Sie grüßen sie viel tausendmal
Und schöpfen Heil im Gnadensaal
Durch Glauben und Vertrauen.
Preiset den Herrn,
Lobsingt seinem heiligen Namen,
Maria preiset,
Die mächtige Helferin. Amen.

Discography

There are only a few recordings of the work, among others by Thomas Kerbl live during the 2008 Linzer Bruckner festivities.

Notes

  1. ^ The Cambridge companion to Bruckner, p.73

References

External links