Psalm 22 (Bruckner)

History#

Amongst the five psalm settings composed by Bruckner, Psalm 22 is the only one with piano accompaniment. The work was composed in circa 1852 in St. Florian, but it is unknown when it was performed at that time. The manuscript is stored in the archive of the St. Florian monastery. The first known performance occurred on 11 October 1921 in St. Florian by Franz Xaver Müller. It was first published in Band II/2, pp. 119–130 of the Göllerich/Auer biography. It was edited by Paul Hawkshaw in 1997 in Band XX/2 of the .

Text#

(The Lord is shepherd and caregiver) # # # # # # #

Setting#

The 131-bar work in E major is scored for SATB choir and soloists, and piano. The setting of the first part is in general homophone, with a few imitations on “So will ich nichts Übles fürchten”, “Du has bereitet einen Tisch”, “wie herrlich ist er!” and “Und deine Barmherzigkeit”. From bar 43 onwards, the last verse is sung by the choir as a fugue, which evolves, on bar 115, in an ending a cappella Chorale.

Discography#

There are three recordings of this work: * Franz Farnberger, Anton Bruckner in St. Florian – Requiem & Motetten, St. Florianer Sängerknaben, Studio SM D2639 SM 44, 1997. This performance, which was recorded in the St. Florian Abbey, provides the listener with a whiff of authenticity. * Thomas Kerbl, Anton Bruckner – Chöre & Klaviermusik, Chorvereinigung Bruckner 09 and Kammerchor der Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität Linz, CD Bruckner Haus LIVA 034, 2009 * Calmus Ensemble, Bruckner Vocal - Psalm 22, WAB 34 – Carus, 2023 * Markus Stumpner, Erinnerung - Bruckner in St. Florian, St. Florianer Sängerknaben, Solo Musica SM 450, 2024

Sources#

• August Göllerich, Anton Bruckner. Ein Lebens- und Schaffens-Bild, – posthumous edited by Max Auer by G. Bosse, Regensburg, 1932
• Cornelis van Zwol, Anton Bruckner - Leven en Werken, Thot, Bussum (Netherlands), 2012.
• John Williamson, The Cambridge Companion to Bruckner, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
• Uwe Harten, Anton Bruckner. Ein Handbuch. , Salzburg, 1996. .
• Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XX/2: Psalm 22 (1852), Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Paul Hawkshaw (Editor), Vienna, 1997

External links#

• Anton Bruckner – Psalm 22 und Psalm 114, neu revidiert von Paul Nudelman und William Carragan
• Psalm 22 (23) Es-Dur, WAB 34 Critical discography by Hans Roelofs
• Anton Bruckner Critical Complete Edition – Psalms and Magnificat
• Psalm 22 - St Florianer Sängerknaben, Marmorsaal 17 August 2010