| Arneth Cantata Heil Vater! Dir zum hohen Feste | |
| Key: | D major |
| Catalogue: | WAB 61 |
| Form: | Cantata |
| Text: | Ernst Marinelli |
| Language: | German |
| Dedication: |
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| Composed: |
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| Vocal: | choir |
| Instrumental: | 3 horns, 2 trumpets, bass-trombone |
The Arneth Cantata, WAB 61, is a cantata composed by Anton Bruckner in 1852.
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.[1]
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.[1] It is put in Band XXII/1 No. 3a of the German: Gesamtausgabe.[2]
There are two other versions of this celebratory composition:
The first version of the cantata is using a text by Franz Ernst Marinelli.
| To you on this noble celebrationWe and worthy guests donateThe prize of gratitude and loveTo you, favoured by the muses.To you, faithfully, truly and ferventlyThe heart beats in every bosom. It should be about thirty years,Since you vouched as fatherTo care for us in GodAnd for all who trusted in youAnd happily relied on your word;They were well sheltered. Therefore we offer today rejoycingWhat 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 LordAhead of our ways. You acted faithfully and honestly here,Therefore you saw within the CanonicsMany a noble fruit appear,You bore the heavy burdenAnd that is why your people will notForget you! Today they bring to you with jubilationWhat every heart has in love,What every mouth evokes for you,And every look leaves you with joy,Today as a brotherly choir they evokeFor you the gratitude of the Lord.[5] |
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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).[1] The trombone functions mostly as bass voice of a horn quartet.[5]
The first version of the cantata (WAB 61a) is in seven movements:
This cantata, the first of three larger-scale occasional compositions,[7] 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.[5]
The second version of the catata is using a new text by Franz Ernst Marinelli.
| Decorate the lyre with a festive wreathAnd fondly as it beats in the heartArouses 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 refugebuilding 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 readyAnd ties the bandWith faithful hand. Therefore the heart beats in a happy chestFollowed by the noble delight of thanksOn his paths of life.And even if time threatens so heavilythere smiles at him from aboveFrom above the blessing. O Lord in Heaven, see hereThe group of yours, it calls to You.And praise and thanks is their prayerAnd blessing that they implore intensely,Beloved, respected and veneratedhe is also worthy of Your custody. |
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The second version of the cantata (WAB 61b) is in five movements:
The 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.[8] The shortened, second version is 111-bar long, plus an 11-bar repeat.