| Der Abendhimmel | |
| Key: | F major |
| Catalogue: | WAB 56 |
| Text: | Joseph Christian von Zedlitz |
| Language: | German |
| Dedication: | Niederösterreichischer Sängerbund |
| Vocal: | choir |
("The evening sky"), WAB 56, is a song composed by Anton Bruckner in 1866. It is the second setting of the work. In 1862, Bruckner had already composed a first setting of the song for men's voice quartet.
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 German: Niederösterreichischer Sängerbund (singers association of Lower Austria).[1] [2] The piece was performed first by the Wiener Männergesang-Verein (men's singer society of Vienna) on 17 December 1898.[1]
The original manuscript is stored in the archive of Österreichische Nationalbibliothek.[1] [3] It was first issued as German: Zwei Männerchöre by Doblinger, Vienna in 1902 together with the German: [[Vaterlandslied, WAB 92|Vaterlandslied]], WAB 92 "German: O könnt' ich dich beglücken".[1] [3] The work is issued in Band XXIII/2, No. 19 of the German: Gesamtausgabe.[4]
The 38-bar long work in F major is scored for choir a cappella.[3] This second setting of Der Abendhimmel exhibits several modulations and rests, which are characteristic of Bruckner's later melodies.[1]
A selection among the few recordings of Der Abendhimmel, WAB 56: