| Pange lingua | |
|---|---|
| Motet by Anton Bruckner | |
 Fronleichnamsprozessionby Carl Emil Doepler | |
| Key | Phrygian mode |
| Catalogue | WAB 33 |
| Occasion | Corpus Christi |
| Text | Pange lingua |
| Language | Latin |
| Composed | 31 January 1868: Linz |
| Published | 1885: Regensburg |
| Vocal | SATB choir |
Pange lingua (Tell, my tongue), WAB 33, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in 1868. It is a setting of the Latin hymn Pange lingua for the celebration of Corpus Christi.
Bruckner composed the motet on 31 January 1868 at the end of his stay in Linz. [1] Bruckner’s original intention was to have it performed at the same time as the first performance of his Mass in E minor for the dedication of the votive chapel in Linz, the first part of the New Cathedral. [2] Bruckner heard his work only twenty years later. [3] The first performance occurred on 18 August 1890 (the emperor's birthday) in the Stadtpfarrkiche of Steyr. [1] The manuscript of the motet is archived at the ' Österreichische Nationalbibliothek .
Franz Xaver Witt was a leader of the Cecilian Movement, aiming to restore Catholic church music "to the purity and comparative simplicity of the Palestrinian style". [4] In 1885 he asked Bruckner for a composition to be included in Musica sacra (Regensburg), the movement's journal, in which he issued a transcription of the motet. Witt modified the alto part without Bruckner's agreement, [5] removing "some of the work's more daring harmonies". [4] Ten years later, in 1895, the motet was published in its original setting by Johann Groß, Innsbruck. [1] The motet, which Bruckner called his Lieblings-Tantum ergo (favourite Tantum ergo), [1] is put in Band XXI/22 of the Gesamtausgabe. [6]
The work is a setting of 38 bars in Phrygian mode of the first and last two verses (Tantum ergo) of the Pange lingua for mixed choir a cappella . A 3-bar Amen was added later. [1]
The work, which is composed in the old church mode, begins in unison and evolves via an empty fifth to perfect chords. Max Auer commented: The whole work has much mystic atmosphere and, despite its great simplicity, I would regard it as one of Bruckner's best sacred compositions ("Das ganze Stück ist voll mystischer Stimmung und ich möchte es trotz seiner großen Einfachheit zu den besten von Bruckners kirchlichen Chorwerken zählen"). [5]
The first recording occurred in 1965:
A selection among the about 30 recordings of the work:
Ecce sacerdos magnus, 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.
Virga Jesse, WAB 52, is a motet by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner. It sets the gradual Virga Jesse floruit for unaccompanied mixed choir.
Vexilla regis, WAB 51, is the final motet written by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner.
Tota pulchra es, WAB 46, is a sacred motet by the Austrian composer 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.
Ave Maria, WAB 5, is a setting of the Latin prayer Ave Maria 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.
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.
Pange lingua, WAB 31, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1835. It is a setting of the first strophe of the Latin hymn Pange lingua for the celebration of Corpus Christi.
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.
Dir, Herr, dir will ich mich ergeben, WAB 12, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1845.
Libera me, WAB 22, is the second of two settings of the absoute Libera me, composed by Anton Bruckner in 1854.
Tantum ergo, WAB 32, is the first of eight settings of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in 1845.
Tantum ergo, WAB 43, is the second of eight settings of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1845.
The four Tantum ergo, WAB 41, are settings of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in 1846.
Tantum ergo, WAB 42, is a setting of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in 1846.
Tantum ergo, WAB 44, is the last of eight settings of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1854.
Salvum fac populum tuum, WAB 40, is a motet composed by Anton Bruckner in 1884.
Inveni David, WAB 19, is a sacred motet composed by Anton Bruckner in 1868.
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