Program booklet for the event

Two choral concerts in the Old Cathedral

Anton Bruckner expressly saw himself "as a symphonist" and strived to be recognised as such, but until the mid-1880s, when the success of Symphony No. 7 in E major finally led to increased interest in his symphonic works, he was primarily perceived by the public as a famous organ improviser and composer of successful sacred music. This includes not only his great masses or the Te Deum, but also a large number of individual liturgical works written over a period of around 50 years for a wide variety of occasions and instrumentations.

The Tenebrae Choir, which was founded in 2001 by Nigel Short and is still directed by him today and has long been one of the world's leading vocal ensembles, is taking on this repertoire with two pure yet extraordinarily varied Bruckner programmes, presenting the entire sacred a cappella, organ (or piano) and/or trombone-accompanied choral works of the composer on two consecutive evenings in the Old Cathedral, to which a few songs for voice and organ are added. In addition to popular motets such as Ave Maria, "Christus factus est" and "Locus iste", there are also some unknown pieces that are worth getting to know, and one or two rarities to discover, such as the two pieces by Franz Joseph Aumann - who was Regens Chori at St. Florian's Abbey from 1755 until his death in 1797. Florian Abbey from 1755 until his death in 1797 - "Ecce quomodo moritur justus" and "Tenebrae", to each of which Bruckner added a three-part trombone movement in 1878.

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 flat major for four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 41, no. 1 (1846)

"Ave Maria". Offertorium 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 (around 1886)

"Asperges" in F major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 4 (1843-44)

Mass in F major without Kyrie and Gloria (for Maundy Thursday = "Christus factus est" [I]) for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 9 (1844)

Herz Jesu-Lied in B flat major for soprano, tenor and bass solo, four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 144 (around 1845/46?)

Totenlied (I) in E flat major for four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 47, No. 1 (1852)

Am Grabe in F minor for four-part male choir a cappella, WAB 2 (1861)

"Ecce quomodo moritur justus". Responsorium in G minor for four-part mixed choir a cappella by Franz Joseph Aumann (1728-1797) with trombone writing by Anton Bruckner, WAB add 265 (1878)

"Os justi". Graduale Lydian for four- to eight-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 30, no. 2 (1879)

"Inveni David" (II) Lydian for unison voices and organ, WAB 20 (1879)

22nd Psalm in E flat major for solo voices, four-part mixed choir and piano, WAB 34 (around 1852)


- Intermission -

Tenebrae Choir

James Sherlock | Organ

Nigel Short | Direction