Der Abendhimmel, WAB 56

History#

Bruckner composed this second setting “evening song” Der Abendhimmel on 6 December 1866. He used again the text of Joseph Christian von Zedlitz, which he had already used for the first setting in 1862. Bruckner dedicated the song to (singers association of Lower Austria). The piece was performed first by the Wiener Männergesang-Verein (men’s singer society of Vienna) on 17 December 1898. It was first issued as by Doblinger, Vienna in 1902 together with the , WAB 92 “”.

Music#

The 38-bar long work in F major is scored for SATB choir a cappella. This second setting of Der Abendhimmel exhibits several modulations and rests, which are characteristic of Bruckner’s later melodies.

Discography#

A selection among the few recordings of Der Abendhimmel, WAB 56: * Guido Mancusi, Chorus Viennensis, Musik, du himmlisches Gebilde! – CD: ORF CD 73, 1995 * Thomas Kerbl, Quartet of the Männerchorvereinigung Bruckner 08, Anton Bruckner – Männerchöre – CD: LIVA 027, 2008 *Jan Schumacher, Camerata Musica Limburg, Serenade. Songs of night and love – CD: Genuin GEN 12224, 2011

Sources#

• Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XXIII/2: Weltliche Chorwerke (1843–1893), Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Angela Pachovsky and Anton Reinthaler (editor), Vienna, 1989
• Uwe Harten, Anton Bruckner. Ein Handbuch. , Salzburg, 1996. .
• 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#

• Der Abendhimmel F-Dur, WAB 56 – Critical discography by Hans Roelofs
• Live performance
• Liederkranz Cleeberg: Der Abendhimmel (Bruckner)
• Männerchorkonzert ‘Bruckner im Kremstal’ - Pfarrkirche Micheldorf, 17 May 2024 (at 28:03).