Requiem (Bruckner)
Encyclopedia
The Requiem in D minor WAB
39 by Anton Bruckner
is a setting of the Missa pro defunctis for vocal soloists, trombones, one horn, strings and organ with figured bass
, written to memorialize Franz Sailer, the notary of the St. Florian monastery, who bequeathed Bruckner a Bösendorfer
piano. The Requiem was premiered on September 15, 1849, a year after Sailer's death.
The Requiem is most likely Bruckner's "first truly large-scale composition and probably his first significant work." "[It] is amazing what he achieved, especially if we look at the great double fugue of the Quam olim Abrahae, written at least six years before he even commenced his thorough contrapuntal studies with Simon Sechter!"
There is clear influence of Mozart throughout the work. "[There] are many passages reminiscent of what was even then, in 1848/49, a past age (the very opening points irresistibly to Mozart's Requiem
in the same key), and though the very inclusion of a figured bass for organ continuo
strikes one as backward looking, there are already several flashes of the later, great Bruckner to come." "[Despite it] is by no means a perfect masterpiece, … [it] can be said to be the first full demonstration that the young man was a composer of inestimable promise."
"[The] expressively reticent opening of the opening of the Requiem, with his softly shifting syncopations in the strings … already faintly anticipates one or two of his own symphonic passages in the two earlier D minor symphonies, for instance Nos. ‘0’
and 3
. … [We] cannot escape the solemn beauty of this music, which already has the authentic atmosphere of natural genius."
"During the years following the composition of the Requiem, Bruckner wrote a number of small choral works as well as two works on a larger canvas: a Magnificat
(1852) and the Missa Solemnis
in B-flat minor (1854). Strangely enough these do not quite measure up to the qualities inherent in the earlier Requiem."
Unlike the later Masses, Bruckner never revised this setting. Still, there are three different editions in the Gesamtausgabe: the first, by Robert Haas
in 1930, added a lot of dynamics markings but ignored some of Bruckner's hairpins; the second, by Leopold Nowak
in 1966, corrected these oversights but retained antique clefs for the vocal parts, (that is, different C-clefs for soprano, alto and tenor); the third edition, by Rüdiger Bornhöft in 1998, modernised the clefs (treble for all but bass) and corrected minor errors.
The LP-recording by Schönzeler in 1970 was a pioneer and remained for years the best recording.
Best’s excellent CD-recording in 1988 has supplanted Schönzeler’s one and is still, according to Hans Roelofs, currently the reference.
The recording of Farnberger of 1997 with the Instrumentalensemble St. Florian and the St. Florianer Sängerknaben provides the work with some special touch of authenticity.
Out of the more recent recordings, Roelofs picks out Janssens' recording of 2006.
Werkverzeichnis Anton Bruckner
The Werkverzeichnis Anton Bruckners is a thematic catalogue of the music of Anton Bruckner compiled by Renata Grasberger. Grasberger did not include any unfinished compositions nor lost works. Lost works, sketches, etc. were added afterwards...
39 by Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
is a setting of the Missa pro defunctis for vocal soloists, trombones, one horn, strings and organ with figured bass
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
, written to memorialize Franz Sailer, the notary of the St. Florian monastery, who bequeathed Bruckner a Bösendorfer
Bösendorfer
Bösendorfer is an Austrian piano manufacturer, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha. The brand is known for producing pianos with a uniquely rich, singing, and sustaining tone...
piano. The Requiem was premiered on September 15, 1849, a year after Sailer's death.
Setting
- IntroitIntroitThe Introit is part of the opening of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations. In its most complete version, it consists of an antiphon, psalm verse and Gloria Patri that is spoken or sung at the beginning of the celebration...
("Requiem aeternam...") and KyrieKyrieKyrie, a transliteration of Greek κύριε , vocative case of κύριος , meaning "Lord", is the common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, which is also called the Kýrie, eléison ....
: Andante, D minorD minorD minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. In the harmonic minor, the C is raised to C. Its key signature has one flat ....
, common timeCommon Time"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction... - SequenceDies IraeDies Irae is a thirteenth century Latin hymn thought to be written by Thomas of Celano . It is a medieval Latin poem characterized by its accentual stress and its rhymed lines. The metre is trochaic...
: "Dies irae, ..." Allegro, D minor, 3/4 - "Judex ergo..." Recitativ, Etwas langsamer - "remanebit, nil in ultum..." Tempo I - Offertorium:
- "Domine Jesu, ..." Andante, F majorF majorF major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
, 2/4 - "Hostias et preces, ..." Adagio, B-flat major, common time - ChoraleChoraleA chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....
by divided man voices and trombones - "Quam olim Abrahae..." Con spirito, F minorF minorF minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. The harmonic minor raises the E to E. Its key signature has four flats ....
, cut time - Double fugueFugueIn music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
ending in F major.
- "Domine Jesu, ..." Andante, F major
- SanctusSanctusThe Sanctus is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung as the final words of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine...
: Andante, D minor, 12/8 - Benedictus: Andante, B-flat major, 6/4 - a solo horn replaces one of the trombones
- Agnus Dei and Lux aeterna: Adagio, D minor, common time
- Communion:
- "Requiem aeternam..." [Adagio], D minor, cut time - Chorale a capella
- "Cum sanctis tuis..." Alla breve, D minor ending in D majorD majorD major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
, cut time
The Requiem is most likely Bruckner's "first truly large-scale composition and probably his first significant work." "[It] is amazing what he achieved, especially if we look at the great double fugue of the Quam olim Abrahae, written at least six years before he even commenced his thorough contrapuntal studies with Simon Sechter!"
There is clear influence of Mozart throughout the work. "[There] are many passages reminiscent of what was even then, in 1848/49, a past age (the very opening points irresistibly to Mozart's Requiem
Requiem (Mozart)
The Requiem Mass in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composed in Vienna in 1791 and left unfinished at the composer's death. A completion by Franz Xaver Süssmayr was delivered to Count Franz von Walsegg, who had anonymously commissioned the piece for a requiem Mass to commemorate the...
in the same key), and though the very inclusion of a figured bass for organ continuo
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
strikes one as backward looking, there are already several flashes of the later, great Bruckner to come." "[Despite it] is by no means a perfect masterpiece, … [it] can be said to be the first full demonstration that the young man was a composer of inestimable promise."
"[The] expressively reticent opening of the opening of the Requiem, with his softly shifting syncopations in the strings … already faintly anticipates one or two of his own symphonic passages in the two earlier D minor symphonies, for instance Nos. ‘0’
Symphony No. 0 (Bruckner)
This Symphony in D minor composed by Anton Bruckner was not assigned a number by its composer, and has subsequently become known by the German designation Die Nullte .-Composition:...
and 3
Symphony No. 3 (Bruckner)
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 3 in D minor was dedicated to Richard Wagner and is sometimes known as his "Wagner Symphony". It was written in 1873, revised in 1877 and again in 1891....
. … [We] cannot escape the solemn beauty of this music, which already has the authentic atmosphere of natural genius."
"During the years following the composition of the Requiem, Bruckner wrote a number of small choral works as well as two works on a larger canvas: a Magnificat
Magnificat (Bruckner)
The Magnificat WAB 24 by Anton Bruckner is a setting of the Magnificat for vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ written in 1852. It was premiered in Sankt Florian, as Bruckner had specifically composed it for the Vesper service of the church there...
(1852) and the Missa Solemnis
Missa Solemnis (Bruckner)
The Missa Solemnis WAB 29 by Anton Bruckner is a setting of the mass ordinary for vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ.Following the death of Michael Arneth, Friedrich Mayr was appointed abbot of St. Florian. The Missa Solemnis was premiered on September 14, 1854, the day of Mayr's...
in B-flat minor (1854). Strangely enough these do not quite measure up to the qualities inherent in the earlier Requiem."
Unlike the later Masses, Bruckner never revised this setting. Still, there are three different editions in the Gesamtausgabe: the first, by Robert Haas
Robert Haas (musicologist)
Robert Maria Haas Austrian musicologist.At the beginning of his career with the Austrian national library, Haas was mostly interested in Baroque and Classical music...
in 1930, added a lot of dynamics markings but ignored some of Bruckner's hairpins; the second, by Leopold Nowak
Leopold Nowak
Leopold Nowak was a musicologist chiefly known for editing the works by Anton Bruckner for the International Bruckner Society. He reconstructed the original form of some of those works, most of which had been revised and edited many times.Nowak was born in Vienna, Austria. He studied piano and...
in 1966, corrected these oversights but retained antique clefs for the vocal parts, (that is, different C-clefs for soprano, alto and tenor); the third edition, by Rüdiger Bornhöft in 1998, modernised the clefs (treble for all but bass) and corrected minor errors.
Discography
The Requiem remains still somewhat in the background of other Bruckner's works. Most of the about 20 recordings of it are live performances, which were not brought to the commercial market.The LP-recording by Schönzeler in 1970 was a pioneer and remained for years the best recording.
Best’s excellent CD-recording in 1988 has supplanted Schönzeler’s one and is still, according to Hans Roelofs, currently the reference.
The recording of Farnberger of 1997 with the Instrumentalensemble St. Florian and the St. Florianer Sängerknaben provides the work with some special touch of authenticity.
Out of the more recent recordings, Roelofs picks out Janssens' recording of 2006.
- Hans-Hubert Schönzeler, Requiem & 4 Orchestral Pieces, Alexandra Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Robert Munns (Organ), LP: Unicorn UNS 210, 1970
- Hans Michael Beuerle, Requiem in D minor, Laubacher Kantorei, Instrumental-Ensemble Werner Keltsch, LP: Cantate 658 231, 1972.
This long out-of-print LP has recently been transferred to CD: Klassic Haus KHCD 2011-092 (with Psalm 146Psalm 146 (Bruckner)Psalm 146 in A major by Anton Bruckner is a large religious work for eight-part double mixed choir, four soloists and full orchestra. It is a setting of verses 1 to 11 of Psalm 147 in the modern liturgy....
by Wolfgang Riedelbauch). - Matthew Best, Corydon Singers, English Chamber Orchestra, and Thomas Trotter (organ), CD: Hyperion CDA66245, 1987 (with Psalm 112Psalm 112 (Bruckner)Bruckner's Psalm 112 in E flat major is a composition for eight-part double mixed choir and full orchestra, opus WAB 35. It is a setting of the Psalm 113 in the modern liturgy....
and Psalm 114Psalm 114 (Bruckner)Bruckner's Psalm 114 in G major is a composition for five-part mixed choir and three trombones, opus WAB 36. It is a setting of the Psalm 116 in the modern liturgy.The work was composed in 1852 in St. Florian...
) - Anton Bruckner in St. Florian – Requiem & Motetten, Franz Farnberger conducting the Instrumentalensemble St. Florian and the St. Florianer Sängerknaben - CD Studio SM D2639 SM 44, 1997
- Guy Janssens, A history of the Requiem - Part III, Laudantes Consort, Benoît Mernier, Organ - CD: Cypres CYP 1654, 2006 (with Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem)