The Arneth Cantata, WAB 61, is a cantata composed by Anton Bruckner in 1852.

History Bruckner composed the cantata for the name-day of Michael Arneth, the prior of the St. Florian Abbey. The piece was performed on 29 September 1852 on the evening before Arneth's name day.C. van Zwol, p. 713

The original manuscript is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey. A facsimile of the cantata was first published in band II/1, pp. 116–128 of the Göllerich/Auer biography. It is put in Band XXII/1 No. 3a of the .Gesamtausgabe – Kantaten und Chorwerke mit Orchester

There are two other versions of this celebratory composition: Auf Brüder! auf zur frohen Feier!, a shortened, 111-bar long version in five movements, on another text of Marinelli, composed in 1857. It was performed on 17 July 1857 as second name-day Cantata for Friedrich Mayer.U. Harten, pp. 66-67 The original manuscript of this second version is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey. It is put in Band XXII/1 No. 3b of the . Heil dir zum schöne Erstlingsfeste. In , another text by Beda Piringer was put on the original seven-movement setting of the cantata for a (celebration of the first Mass) by a newly ordained priest in Kremsmünster. The original score is lost, but copies of it are stored in the archive of the Kremsmünster Abbey. It is not known whether Bruckner was involved in the realisation process of the new setting.U. Harten, p. 192 This setting is not put in the .

First version Text The first version of the cantata is using a text by Franz Ernst Marinelli. Hail father! To you on this noble celebration We and worthy guests donate The prize of gratitude and love To you, favoured by the muses. To you, faithfully, truly and fervently The heart beats in every bosom.

It should be about thirty years, Since you vouched as father To care for us in God And for all who trusted in you And happily relied on your word; They were well sheltered.

Therefore we offer today rejoycing What every heart has in love, What every mouth evokes for you, And every look leaves you with joy, On the blessed alter of thanks.

The praise of the Lord, the power of the house, Your priesthood honoured them, You were the blessing of your people, You proceeded noble, devoted and gentle, A shepherd on the frame of the Lord Ahead of our ways.

You acted faithfully and honestly here, Therefore you saw within the Canonics Many a noble fruit appear, You bore the heavy burden And that is why your people will not Forget you!

Today they bring to you with jubilation What every heart has in love, What every mouth evokes for you, And every look leaves you with joy, Today as a brotherly choir they evoke For you the gratitude of the Lord.W. K. Kinder, pp. 16-20

Setting The 123-bar long work, plus an 18-bar repeat, in D major is scored for choir, and brass instruments (3 horns, 2 trumpets and bass-trombone). The trombone functions mostly as bass voice of a horn quartet.

The first version of the cantata (WAB 61a) is in seven movements: Heil Vater! Dir zum hohen Feste: six-voice mixed choir (24 bars) - Bewegt An dreißig Jahre mögen's sein: men's choir a cappella (16 bars) - Mit Gefühl Drum bringen wir mit Jubel heut: six-voice mixed choir (18 bars) - Bewegt Des Herren Ruhm, des Hauses Kraft: men's choir a cappella (16 bars) - Mit Gefühl Drum bringen wir mit Jubel heut: six-voice mixed choir (18 bars) - part 3 da capo Du wirktest treu und bieder hier: men's choir a cappella (19 bars) - Andante Final Choir Sie bringen dir mit Jubel heut''': six-voice mixed choir (30 bars) - Nicht zu geschwindU. Harten, pp. 192-193

This cantata, the first of three larger-scale occasional compositions,C. Howie, Chapter II, pp. 22-23 is mostly conventionally diatonic and based on simple structures. Movements two and three are repeated as movements four (with a different text) and five (exact repetition). The work displays already some marks of Bruckner's style. Two horn passages, which recur frequently, provide as in later works musical unity.

Second version Text The second version of the catata is using a new text by Franz Ernst Marinelli. Let's go, brothers for a happy celebration! Decorate the lyre with a festive wreath And fondly as it beats in the heart Arouses the power of the songs. The day, which carries his name, Returns to us, blessed.

Where is the heart, which does not know him? Where is the thanks, which does not mention him? In love and trust. Did you ever see on the father's word, On such a friend's gentle refuge building deceived hopes?

No! no, hope does not deceive. The noble man loves the duty of love. And where the father is trusted, The friend is also immediately ready And ties the band With faithful hand.

Therefore the heart beats in a happy chest Followed by the noble delight of thanks On his paths of life. And even if time threatens so heavily there smiles at him from above From above the blessing.

O Lord in Heaven, see here The group of yours, it calls to You. And praise and thanks is their prayer And blessing that they implore intensely, Beloved, respected and venerated he is also worthy of Your custody.

Setting The second version of the cantata (WAB 61b) is in five movements: Auf, Brüder auf zur frohen Feier!: six-voice mixed choir (25 bars) - Bewegt Wo ist das Herz, das Ihn nicht kennt: men's choir a cappella (19 bars) - Mit Gefühl Nein, nein die Hoffnung täuschet nicht: six-voice mixed choir (18 bars) - Bewegt Drum schlägt das Herz in froher Brust: men's choir a cappella (19 bars) - Andante Final Choir O Herr im Himmel siehe hier: six-voice mixed choir (30 bars) - Nicht zu geschwindThe repeat of movements two and three was eliminated. The opening section of the first choir was expanded from thirteen bars to fourteen, and last half of movement two was recomposed.W. K. Kinder, p. 38 The shortened, second version is 111-bar long, plus an 11-bar repeat.

References

Sources August Göllerich, Anton Bruckner. Ein Lebens- und Schaffens-Bild, – posthumous edited by Max Auer by G. Bosse, Regensburg, 1932 Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XXII/1: Kantaten und Chorwerke I (1845–1855), Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Franz Burkhart, Rudolf H. Führer and Leopold Nowak (Editor), Vienna, 1987 (Available on IMSLP: Neue Gesamtausgabe, XXII/1. Kantaten und Chorwerke Teil 1: Nr. 1-5) Uwe Harten, Anton Bruckner. Ein Handbuch. , Salzburg, 1996. Keith William Kinder, The Wind and Wind-Chorus Music of Anton Bruckner, Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 2000 Cornelis van Zwol, Anton Bruckner 1824–1896 – Leven en werken, uitg. Thoth, Bussum, Netherlands, 2012. Crawford Howie, Anton Bruckner - A documentary biography'', online revised edition

External links

Heil, Vater! Dir zum hohen Feste D-Dur, WAB 61a - Critical discography by Hans Roelofs Auf, Brüder! auf zur frohen Feier D-Dur, WAB 61b - Critical discography by Hans Roelofs Heil Dir zum schönen Erstlingsfeste D-Dur, WAB 61c - Critical discography by Hans Roelofs