Two Choir Concerts in the Old Cathedral
Anton Bruckner explicitly saw himself as a "symphonist" and sought recognition as such, but it wasn't until the mid-1880s, when the success of Symphony No. 7 in E major finally led to increased interest in his symphonic work, that he was primarily perceived by the public as a famous organ improviser and composer of successful sacred music. This includes not only his large masses or the Te Deum, but also a variety of liturgical works created over a period of around 50 years for various occasions and diverse instrumentations.
With two purely, yet extraordinarily varied Bruckner programs, the Tenebrae Choir founded in 2001 by Nigel Short and still led by him today, one of the world's leading vocal ensembles, delves into this repertoire and presents over two consecutive evenings in the Old Cathedral the entire sacred a cappella choral work of the jubilarian, accompanied by organ (or piano) and/or trombone. In addition to popular motets like the Ave Maria, "Christus factus est," or "Locus iste," one can also hear some lesser-known pieces worth discovering, and some rarities to uncover, including the two responsories "Ecce quomodo moritur justus" and "Tenebrae" by Franz Joseph Aumann – who served as Regens Chori at St. Florian Abbey from 1755 until his death in 1797 – to which Bruckner added a three-part trombone setting in 1878.
Program:
Anton Bruckner (1824–1896)
“Pange lingua.” Hymn in C major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 31, No. 1 (1835–37)
“Tantum ergo.” Hymn in B major for four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 41, No. 1 (1846)
“Ave Maria.” Offertory in F major for seven-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 6 (1861)
“Ave Regina coelorum.” Marian antiphon for unison voices and organ, WAB 8 (circa 1886)
“Asperges” in F major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 4 (1843–44)
Missa in F major without Kyrie and Gloria (for Maundy Thursday = “Christus factus est” [I]) for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 9 (1844)
Heart of Jesus Song in B major for soprano, tenor, and bass solo, four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 144 (around 1845/46?)
Song of Mourning (I) in E flat major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 47, No. 1 (1852)
At the Grave in F minor for four-part men's choir a cappella, WAB 2 (1861)
“Ecce quomodo moritur justus.” Responsory in G minor for four-part mixed choir a cappella by Franz Joseph Aumann (1728–1797) with trombone setting by Anton Bruckner, WAB add 265 (1878)
“Os justi.” Gradual in Lydian mode for four to eight-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 30, No. 2 (1879)
“Inveni David” (II) in Lydian mode for unison voices and organ, WAB 20 (1879)
Psalm 22 in E flat major for soloists, four-part mixed choir and piano, WAB 34 (around 1852)
– Intermission –
Anton Bruckner
“Tantum ergo.” Hymn in D major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 32 (1843)
“To You, Lord, I Will Submit.” Chorale in A major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 12 (around 1844/45)
“Tantum ergo.” Hymn in D major for five-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 42, No. 1 (1846)
“Ave Maria” in F major for contralto and organ, WAB 7 (1882)
“Tantum ergo.” Hymn in A flat major for four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 41, No. 2 (1846)
“O Sweet Jesus Child.” Song in F major for solo voice and organ, WAB 145 (1845/46)
Missa in D minor without Gloria [and Credo] (“Kronstorfer Messe”) for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 146 (1844)
Renunciation. Cantata in B major for soprano or tenor solo, four-part mixed choir and organ (or piano), WAB 14 (around 1851)
“Tantum ergo.” Hymn in A major for four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 43 (1844 or 1845)
Obituary in C minor for four-part men's choir and organ, WAB 81a (1877)
“On that final night.” Chorale in F minor for solo voice and organ, WAB 17, No. 1 (1848)
“On that final night.” Chorale in F minor for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 17, No. 2 (1848)
“Tantum ergo.” Hymn in B major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 41, No. 1 (1846, revised 1888)
“Deliver me.” Responsory in F minor for five-part mixed choir, three trombones and basso continuo (cello and organ), WAB 22 (1854)
Performers:
Tenebrae Choir
James Sherlock | Organ
Nigel Short | Conductor