Iam lucis orto sidere, WAB 18

History#

Bruckner composed this motet in the summer of 1868 for the (“Guardian angel confraternity”) of Wilhering Abbey. Bruckner dedicated it to Adolf Dorfer, the abbot of the abbey. Bruckner set the music on the text written by Robert Riepl, one of the priests working at the abbey. The motet was performed in the same year in the abbey. Riepl’s text is an adaptation of the text used by Orlande de Lassus. Bruckner’s original manuscript, which was stored in the abbey, is lost. A copy of it is stored in the archive of the Kremsmünster Abbey and two other copies are found in the Austrian National Library. The motet was published in 1868 by the Wilhering Abbey. In 1886, Bruckner made a new version of the motet for men’s choir, which was published in the journal , volume 1, no. 8, p. 240, F. Mamroth, Vienna. The includes two settings of the 1868 version in volume XXI/24, and the 1886 setting in volume XXI/35.

Music#

The first version in Phrygian mode, which Bruckner composed in 1868, is 24-bar long. Two settings are extant: a first with all eight verses of Riepl’s text for SATB choir a cappella, and a second with only one verse of a different text for SATB choir and organ. The motet is a simple, modally inspired piece and homophonic throughout. A new version of the motet in G minor, which Bruckner composed in 1886, uses verses 1, 2, 7 and 8 of Riepl’s text and is set for SATB choir a cappella.

Text of the second setting#

: Note: In addition to the Latin text, there is also a German version based on a text by Margarete Hemleben entitled Du Herr der Herren, in a presumably Protestant-oriented hymnal. : A performance can be heard on YouTube: Choir Nomen Nescio Arnhem – Du Herr der Herren

Selected discography#

The first recording occurred in 1976: * Mathias Breitschaft, Limburger Domsingknaben, Bruckner: 9 Motets/Palestrina: 8 Motets – LP: Carus FSM 53118 (1st verse of the 1st setting)

First setting#

A few other recordings, all with deviations from the score: * Balduin Sulzer, Chor des Musikgymnasiums Linz, Musik aus der Stifterstraße – LP: Extempore AD-80.01/2, 1980 (verses 1, 2 & 3) * Robert Jones, Choir of St. Bride’s Church, Bruckner: Motets – CD: Naxos 8.550956, 1994 (all 8 verses) * Lionel Sow, Choeur de Filles Caecilia & Maîtrise des Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Christophe de Javel, Johannes Brahms – Anton Bruckner Jardins secrets – CD: Studio SM Collection Blanche D3029, 2004 (verses 1, 2 & 3)

Second setting#

Only one recording : * Balduin Sulzer, Mozart Chor Linz, Bruckner – CD: AtemMusik Records ATMU 97001, 1997 (with brass accompaniment)

1886 version#

There are two recordings of this version: * Duncan Ferguson, Choir of St. Mary’s Cathedral of Edinburgh, Bruckner: Motets – CD: Delphian Records DCD34071, 2010 * Matthias Giesen, Schola Floriana, Kirchenmusik im Bruckner-Ort Ansfelden – CD: Weinberg Records SW 010497-2, 2016 (strophes 1 & 2)

Sources#

• Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XXI: Kleine Kirchenmusikwerke, Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Hans Bauernfeind and Leopold Nowak (Editor), Vienna, 1984/2001
• 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#

• • 2nd setting
• In S. Angelum custodem, WAB 18 Critical discography by Hans Roelofs
• Can be heard on TouTube:
• Iam lucis orto sidere by Ricardo Luna with the Wiener Madrigalchor
• Iam lucis orto sidere by Der junge Chor der Liederblüte of Oberweyer (2015) – third setting of the motet