Weltliche Chorwerke (Bruckner)

Throughout almost all his composing life, Anton Bruckner composed about 30 Weltliche Chorwerke (secular choral works) and a few Wahlsprüche (mottos) on German-language texts, the first in 1843 and the last in 1893. Many of these works including the mottos, often with a patriotic slant, were written for Liedertafel (men's choral societies), above all Frohsinn and Sängerbund.^[1] Others were composed for private occasions, such as weddings, funerals, birthdays or name-days, being dedicated to friends and acquaintances of the composer.^[2]

Windhaag and Kronstorf

• An dem Feste, WAB 59, a 20-bar long work, with 5 strophes, in D-flat major for men's choir composed on 19 September 1843 on a text by Alois Knauer.
  Adapted in D major with another text by Ludwig Carl Kraus, as Festlied, WAB 67.

Sankt Florian

• Das Lied vom deutschen Vaterland, WAB 78, a 20-bar long work in D-flat major for men's choir composed in c. 1845. The composer of the text is unknown.
• Ständchen, WAB 84, a 29-bar long work in G major, for humming men's-voice quartet and tenor soloist, composed in c. 1846 on a text possibly by Ernst Marinelli. Bruckner used this text already in c. 1845 for his sketched lied Wie des Bächleins Silberquelle, WAB 137.
• Der Lehrerstand, WAB 77, a 84-bar long work in E-flat major for men's choir and voice quartet, composed in c. 1847 on a text possibly by Ernst Marinelli.
• Sternschnuppen, WAB 85, a 38-bar long work in F major for men's voice quartet composed in c. 1848 on a text by Ernst Marinelli.
• Ein jubelnd Hoch in D major and Lebt wohl, ihr Sangesbrüder in A major, WAB 83. Two mottos for men's choir composed for the Liedertafel Eferding in 1851.
• Das edle Herz (1st setting), WAB 65, a 46-bar long work in A major for men's choir composed in c. 1851 on a text by Ernst Marinelli.
• Die Geburt, WAB 69, a 25-bar long work in D-flat major for men's choir, composed in the beginning of 1852 for the name day of Bruckner's friend Josef Seiberl.
• Vor Arneths Grab, WAB 53, a 28-bar long work in F minor for men's choir and 3 trombones on a text by Ernst Marinelli, composed in 1854 as elegy for prelate Michael Arneth.
• Laßt Jubeltöne laut erklingen, WAB 76, a 100-bar long "semi-cantata" in E-flat major for men's choir on a text by Hillischer, composed in 1854 as festive song for the Joyous Entry of imperial bride Elisabeth in Linz.
• Des Dankes Wort sei mir vergönnt, WAB 62, a work F major scored for 5-part humming men's choir and tenor and bass soloist composed around 1845-1849 (or 1854?) on a text by Ernst Marinelli.

Linz

• Das edle Herz, WAB 66, a 38-bar long 2nd setting in A major for mixed choir composed in December 1857.
• Am Grabe, a 21-bar long reissue in 1861 of the first 3 strophes a cappella of Vor Arneths Grab as elegy for Josefine Hafferl.
• Du bist wie eine Blume, WAB 64, a 32-bar long work in F major for mixed-voice quartet composed on 5 December 1861 on a text by Heinrich Heine
• Der Abendhimmel (1st setting), WAB 55, a 38-bar long work in A-flat major for men's-voice quartet composed in January 1862 on a text by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zeidlitz.
• Herbstlied, WAB 73, a 69-bar work in F-sharp minor, for men's choir, 2 soprano soloists and piano, composed on 19 March 1864 on a text by Friedrich von Sallet.
• Um Mitternacht (1st setting), WAB 89, a 59-bar long work in F minor for men's choir, alto soloist and piano composed on 12 April 1864 on a text by Robert Prutz.
• Trauungschor, a WAB 49, a 55-bar long work in F major for men's choir, men's-voice quartet and organ, composed in 1865 on a text by Franz Isidor Proschko for the wedding celebration of Karl Kerschbaum with Maria Schimatschek.
• Der Abendhimmel , WAB 56, a 38-bar long 2nd setting in F major for men's choir, composed on 6 December 1866.
• Vaterlandslied, WAB 92, a 87-bar long work in A-flat major for men's choir, and tenor and baritone soloists, composed in November 1866 on a text by August Silberstein.
• Vaterländisch Weinlied, WAB 91, a 12-bar long work (6 strophes) in C major for men's choir, November 1866 on a text by August Silberstein.
• Des Höchsten Preis, WAB 95.2, a motto in C major for men's choir, composed in c. 1868 for the Liedertafel Sierning on a text by Andreas Mittermayr.
• Das Frauenherz, die Mannesbrust, WAB 95.1, a motto in A major for mixed choir, composed in c. 1868 for the Liedertafel Frohsinn on a text by Karl Kerschbaum.

Vienna

• Im Wort und Liede wahr und frei, WAB 148.1, in C major, and Wir Alle, Jung und Alt, WAB 148.2, in D minor, two mottos composed in 1869 on texts by Johann Kajetan Markus as posthumous respects for Simon Sechter.
• Mitternacht, WAB 80, a 84-bar long work in A-flat major for men's choir, tenor soloist and piano, composed in 1869on a text by Joseph Mendelssohn.
• Freier Sinn und hoher Mut WAB 147, a motto in D major for men's choir, composed on 21 March 1874 for the Gesangverein Liederkrans.
• Das hohe Lied, WAB 74, a 84-bar long work in A-flat major for humming men's choir, and 2 tenor and baritone soloists, composed on 31 December 1876 on a text by Heinrich von der Mattig. On 1879 Bruckner made a 2nd setting of it with strings (2 violas, cello and double bass) and brass instruments (4 horns, 3 trombones and tuba).
• Nachruf, WAB 81, a 51-bar long work in C minor for men's choir and organ, composed on 19 October 1877 on a text by Heinrich von der Mattig, in memory of Josef Seiberl.
  In 1886, the work was reissued as Trösterin Musik, WAB 88, with another text by August Seuffert.
• Abendzauber, WAB 57, a 82-bar long work in G-flat major, for men's choir, mezzo-soprano or tenor/baritone solo, 3 yodelers and 4 horns, composed on 15 January 1878 on a text by Heinrich von der Mattig.
• Zur Vermählungsfeier, WAB 54, a 68-bar long work in D major for men's choir, composed on 27 November 1878 for the wedding celebration of Anton Oelzelt Ritter von Newin with Amalie Edler von Wieser.
• Sängerbund, WAB 82, a 79-bar long work in C major for men's choir, composed on 3 February 1882. Two settings: on a text by Heinrich von der Mattig (?), and a text by Karl Kerschbaum.
• Volkslied, WAB 94, a 67-bar long work in C major for men's choir, composed in 1882 on a text by Josef Winter. Bruckner composed it, as well as another setting for voice and piano (Sämtliche Werke, Band XXIII/1, No. 6),^[3] for a competition für eines sangbares Nationallied (for a singable National hymn).^[4]
• Um Mitternacht, WAB 90, a 93-bar long 2nd setting in F minor for humming men's choit and tenor soloist, composed on 11 February 1886.
• Heut komt ja Freund Klose zum Gause, WAB deest, a 4-bar long, 4-voice canon in C major, composed on 29 April 1889.^[5]
• Träumen und Wachen, WAB 87, a 75-bar long work in A-flat major for humming men's choir and tenor soloist, composed on 15 December 1890 on a text by Franz Grillparzer.
• Der deutsche Gesang, WAB 63, a 87-bar long work in D minor for men's choir and brass instruments (4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and double-bass tuba), composed on 29 April 1892 on a text by Erich Fels.
• Tafellied, WAB 86, a 16-bar long reissue with 3 strophes, of An dem Feste, WAB 59, in D-flat major composed on 22 February 1893 on a text by Karl Ptak.

Selected discography

Bruckner's Weltliche Chorwerke are rarely performed. One third of them have not yet been commercially recorded.
Three recordings are dedicated to Bruckner's Weltliche Chorwerke:

• Guido Mancusi, Chorus Viennensis, Musik, du himmlisches Gebilde! – CD: ORF CD 73, 1975 (8 Weltliche Chorwerke)
• Thomas Kerbl, Männerchorvereinigung Bruckner 08, Anton Bruckner Männerchöre – CD: LIVA 027, 2008 (9 Weltliche Chorwerke)
• Thomas Kerbl, Männerchorvereinigung Bruckner 12, Weltliche Männerchöre – CD: LIVA 054, 2012 (15 Weltliche Chorwerke)

References

1. ↑ C. van Zwol, pp. 730-731
2. ↑ C. van Zwol, pp. 719-720
3. ↑ Gesamtausgabe – Weltliche Chöre
4. ↑ C. Van Zwol, p. 729
5. ↑ U. Harten, pp. 198-199

Sources

• Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XXIII/2: Secular choruses, Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Angela Pachovsky and Anton Reinthaler (Editor), Vienna, 1989
• Uwe Harten, Anton Bruckner. Ein Handbuch. Residenz Verlag, Salzburg, 1996. ISBN 3-7017-1030-9.
• Cornelis van Zwol, Anton Bruckner 1824–1896 – Leven en werken, uitg. Thoth, Bussum, Netherlands, 2012. ISBN 978-90-6868-590-9
• Crawford Howie, Anton Bruckner - A documentary biography, online revised edition

External links

• Weltliche Vokalwerke Critical discography by Hans Roelofs (German)
• Performances of Abendzauber, WAB 57, and Mitternacht, WAB 80, by Dritan Luca with the Wiener Staatsopernchor (2007) can be heard on YouTube: Abendzauber and Mitternacht
• A performance of Um Mitternacht, WAB 89, by the Wiener Sängerknaben (1955) can be heard on YouTube: Brahms - Bruckner: 2. Um Mitternacht, WAB 89
• Um Mitternacht, WAB 90, and Zur Vermählungsfeier, WAB 54, by the Männerchorvereinigung Bruckner 12 can be heard on YouTube: Um Mitternacht, WAB 90 and Zur Vermählungsfeier
• Um Mitternacht, WAB 90: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• A performance of Trösterin Musik, WAB 88, by the Dresdner Kreuzchor (24 August 2013) can be heard on YouTube: Trösterin Musik - sung a cappellla
• Free scores for Weltliche Chorwerke (Bruckner) in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki): Trösterin Musik