Two choir concerts in the Old Cathedral

Anton Bruckner saw himself distinctly "as a symphonist" and strove for recognition as such. Until the mid-1880s, however, 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 a 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, founded in 2001 by Nigel Short and still directed by him today, has long been one of the world's leading vocal ensembles. It is taking on this repertoire with two pure yet extraordinarily varied Bruckner programmess, presenting the entire sacred a cappella and organ (or piano) and/or trombone-accompanied choral works of the composer on two consecutive evenings in the Old Cathedral. To this 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 worth becoming acquainted with, and one or two rarities yet to discover, such as the two pieces by Franz Joseph Aumann - who was choirmaster of the catholic church at St. Florian's Monastery 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 a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 31, No. 2 (1891)

In Sanctum Angelum custodem. Hymn in G minor for a four-part male choir a cappella, WAB 18, No. 2 (1886)

"Tantum ergo". Hymn in A flat major for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 41, No. 2 (1846, rev. 1888)

"Virga Jesse floruit". Graduale in E minor for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 52 (1885)

"Salvum fac populum tuum" in F major for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 40 (1884)

"Veni creator spiritus". Hymn in F major for voice(s) and the organ, WAB 50 (around 1884)

"Tantum ergo". Hymn in E flat major for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 41, No. 3 (1846, rev. 1888)

"Ave Maria" in F major for soprano and alto solo, a four-part mixed choir, violoncello and organ, WAB 5 (1856)

Two "Asperges" in Aeolian and F major for four-part mixed choir and organ, WAB 3, nos. 1 & 2 (1843-45)

Wedding chorus in F major for solo quartet, a four-part male choir and the organ, WAB 49 (1865)

Vor Arneths Grab in F minor for a four-part male choir and three trombones, WAB 53 (1854)

"Afferentur regi virgines post eam". Offertorium in F major for a four-part mixed choir and three trombones, WAB 1 (1861)

"Tantum ergo". Hymn in E flat major for a four-part mixed choir and the organ, WAB 41, No. 3 (1846)

"Tenebrae". Responsory in G minor for a four-part mixed choir a cappella by Franz Joseph Aumann (1728-1797) with a trombone part by Anton Bruckner, WAB add 268 (1878)

Totenlied (II) in F major for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 47, No. 2 (1852)

114th Psalm in G major for a five-part mixed choir and three trombones, WAB 36 (1852)

- Intermission -

Anton Bruckner

"Pange lingua" et "Tantum ergo". Hymn Phrygian for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 33 (1868)

"Tantum ergo". Hymn in C major for a four-part mixed choir and the organ, WAB 41, No. 4 (1846)

"Vexilla regis". Phrygian hymn for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 51 (1892)

"Tota pulchra es, Maria". Antiphon Phrygian for a tenor solo, a four-part mixed choir and the organ, WAB 46 (1878)

"Libera me". Responsory in F major for a four-part mixed choir and the organ, WAB 21 (1843-45)

"Christus factus est" (III). Gradual in D minor for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 11 (1884)

In Sanctum Angelum custodem. Hymn in Phrygian for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 18, No. 1a (1868)

In Sanctum Angelum custodem. Hymn in E minor for a four-part mixed choir and the organ, WAB 18, No. 1b (1868)

"Locus iste". Gradual in C major for a four-part mixed choir a cappella, WAB 23 (1869)

"Inveni David" (I). Offertorium in F minor for a four-part male choir and four trombones, WAB 19 (1868)

"You are like a flower" in F major for a mixed vocal quartet a cappella, WAB 64 (1861)

"Ecce sacerdos magnus". Responsory in A minor for a four-part mixed choir, three trombones and the organ, WAB 13 (1885)

Tenebrae Choir

James Sherlock | Organ

Nigel Short | Management