Ecce sacerdos magnus (Bruckner)

Last updated

Ecce sacerdos magnus
Motet by Anton Bruckner
Alter Dom Innen.jpg
The altar of the Old Cathedral of Linz
Key A minor
Catalogue WAB 13
Form Responsorium
Text Ecce sacerdos magnus
Language Latin
Composed28 April 1885 (1885-04-28): Vienna
Dedication100th anniversary of the diocese of Linz
Performed21 November 1921 (1921-11-21): Vöcklabruck
Published1911 (1911): Vienna
Vocal SATB choir
InstrumentalOrgan, 3 trombones

Ecce sacerdos magnus (Behold a great priest), WAB 13, is an 1885 sacred motet by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner. It is a musical setting of the antiphon of the same title.

Contents

History

This work was composed at the request of Johann Burgstaller, to be performed at the Linz Cathedral on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the diocese. It was completed by 28 April 1885 and sent to Burgstaller in mid-May. [1] [2] However, the work was not performed at that event, nor at any other event in Bruckner's lifetime.

The work, the manuscrit of which is archived at the Wiener Männer-Sangverein, [3] was edited by Viktor Keldorfer (Universal Edition) in 1911. [2] It was premiered on 21 November 1921 by the Vöcklabruck women's choral society. [4]

The motet is issued in Band XXI/33 of the Gesamtausgabe. [5]

Music

The piece of in total 106 bars is a six-part responsorium in A minor for mixed choir, three trombones and organ: [3]

  1. Ecce sacerdos magnus (bars 1-22). As in Bruckner's Te Deum, the work begins with bare fifths. [6] [3]
  2. Ideo jure jurando (bars 23-39). This second part the work, which is recalling the harmony of the previous Locus iste and Christus factus est WAB 11, [6] is repeated two times as a ritornello on bars 64–80 and 90–106.
  3. Benedictionem omnium (bars 40-63). As in Mass No. 1 and the Adagio of most of Bruckner's symphonies, this third part contains Bruckner's typical ascending scales. [6]
  4. Ideo jure jurando (bars 64-80): first repeat of bars 23-39.
  5. Chorale: Gloria Patri et Filio (bars 81-89). This fifth part, which is sung a cappella in unison, is a transcription of the Gregorian plain chant Gloria Patri [3] with a different metric structure. [5]
  6. Ideo jure jurando (bars 90-106): second repeat of bars 23–39.

The antiphon, which was intended as processional music for the entrance of the bishop into the cathedral, was thus designed to be "majestic" and "ceremonial" in character. The work's "most enthralling feature" is "the antiphonal writing of Gabrielian grandeur" in bars 64–66. [1] Kinder calls the piece "one of Bruckner's crowning achievements in the small forms" and "a work of almost barbaric intensity". [4]

The trombones, which usually double the low voices, occasionally adopt independent lines. The ritornello on the words "Ideo jurejurando" is expanded and contrasted with episodes "that seem to trace the evolution of church music" in their varied use of texture. In contrast, the harmonic structure is more reflective of Bruckner's own compositional style. The piece includes several references to Bruckner's 1854 Libera me , particularly in the harmonic writing. [4]

Selected discography

Bruckner's Ecce sacerdos magnus was recorded at first in 1966 by Eugen Jochum with the choir of the Bayerischen Rundfunk (LP: DG 139134/5).

A selection of the about 30 recordings:

Note

Most of the performers are singing the Chorale in Gregorian mode. Only a few are singing it in accordance with the score: Fiala, Ortner and Schäfer.

Related Research Articles

<i>Messe für den Gründonnerstag</i> 1844 missa brevis composed by Anton Bruckner

The Messe für den Gründonnerstag, WAB 9, is a missa brevis composed by Anton Bruckner in 1844.

<i>Virga Jesse</i> (Bruckner) 1885 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Virga Jesse, WAB 52, is a motet by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner. It sets the gradual Virga Jesse floruit for unaccompanied mixed choir.

<i>Afferentur regi</i> 1861 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Afferentur regi, WAB 1, is a motet, which Anton Bruckner composed on 7 November 1861 on the text of the Offertorium of the Missa pro Virgine et Martyre.

<i>Vexilla regis</i> (Bruckner) 1892 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Vexilla regis, WAB 51, is the final motet written by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tota pulchra es (Bruckner)</span> Motet by Anton Bruckner

Tota pulchra es, WAB 46, is a sacred motet by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner.

<i>Ave Maria</i> (Bruckner) 1861 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Ave Maria, WAB 6, is a sacred motet by Anton Bruckner, a setting of the Latin prayer Ave Maria. He composed it in Linz in 1861 and scored the short work in F major for seven unaccompanied voices. The piece, sometimes named an Offertorium, was published in Vienna in 1867. Before, Bruckner composed the same prayer in 1856 for soprano, alto, a four-part mixed choir, organ and cello, WAB 5. Later, he set the text in 1882 for a solo voice (alto) and keyboard, WAB 7.

<i>Ave Maria</i>, WAB 5 1856 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Ave Maria, WAB 5, is a setting of the Latin prayer Ave Maria by Anton Bruckner.

<i>Christus factus est</i>, WAB 11 1884 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Christus factus est, WAB 11, is a sacred motet by Anton Bruckner, his third setting of the Latin gradual Christus factus est, composed in 1884. Before, Bruckner composed in 1844 a first piece on the same text as gradual of the Messe für den Gründonnerstag, and in 1873 a motet for eight-part mixed choir, three trombones, and string instruments ad libitum. The motet is an expressive setting of the gradual, influenced by Wagner's music.

<i>In jener letzten der Nächte</i>

In jener letzten der Nächte, WAB 17, is a motet composed by Anton Bruckner.

<i>Os justi</i> (Bruckner) 1879 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Os justi, WAB 30, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in 1879. Os Justi is a Gregorian chant used as gradual of the Commune Doctorum, and as introit I and gradual II of the Commune Confessoris non Pontificis.

<i>Asperges me</i>, WAB 4 1844 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Asperges me, WAB 4, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner. It is a setting of the Latin Asperges me, the antiphon used for the celebration of Asperges.

Two <i>Asperges me</i>, WAB 3 1845 motets composed by Anton Bruckner

The two Asperges me, WAB 3, are sacred motets composed by Anton Bruckner. They are settings of the Latin Asperges me, the antiphon used for the celebration of Asperges.

<i>Dir, Herr, dir will ich mich ergeben</i> 1845 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Dir, Herr, dir will ich mich ergeben, WAB 12, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1845.

<i>Libera me</i>, WAB 22 1854 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Libera me, WAB 22, is the second of two settings of the absoute Libera me, composed by Anton Bruckner in 1854.

<i>Tantum ergo</i>, WAB 32 1845 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Tantum ergo, WAB 32, is the first of eight settings of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in 1845.

<i>Tantum ergo</i>, WAB 42 Composition by Anton Bruckner

Tantum ergo, WAB 42, is a setting of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in 1846.

Two <i>Aequali</i> (Bruckner) 1847 works composed by Anton Bruckner

The Two Aequali, WAB 114 & WAB 149, were composed by Anton Bruckner in 1847.

<i>Ave Regina caelorum</i>, WAB 8 1886 motet composed by Anton Bruckner

Ave Regina caelorum, WAB 8, is a motet composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1886.

<i>Inveni David</i>, WAB 19 Musical composition

Inveni David, WAB 19, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in 1868.

References

  1. 1 2 Howie, AC (2004). "Bruckner and the Motet". In Williamson, John (ed.). The Cambridge companion to Bruckner. Cambridge Companions to Music. Cambridge University Press. p. 61. ISBN   978-0-521-00878-5.
  2. 1 2 van Zwol, Cornelis (2012). Anton Bruckner - Leven en Werken. Thot. p. 708. ISBN   978-90-686-8590-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Uwe Harten, p. 139–140
  4. 1 2 3 Kinder, Keith William (2000). The wind and wind-chorus music of Anton Bruckner. Greenwood Press. pp. 113–118. ISBN   978-0-313-30834-5.
  5. 1 2 Gesamtausgabe - Kleine Kirchenmusikwerke
  6. 1 2 3 M. Auer, p. 80–82
  7. ↑ Bruckner, Anton (composer); Stenov, Michael (conductor) (2006-11-26). - Motette "Ecce sacerdos magnus" à 8 voces, 3 Posaunen und Orgel (Online video). YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-29.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.