| Vergißmeinnicht | |
| Key: | D major |
| Catalogue: | WAB 93 |
| Form: | Cantata |
| Language: | German |
| Dedication: |
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| Vocal: | choir – soloists |
| Instrumental: | Piano |
(Forget-me-not), WAB 93, is a cantata composed by Anton Bruckner in 1845.
When he stayed in Kronstorf, Bruckner composed in 1845 the first version of this cantata as (Musical essay in chamber style), which he signed as (candidate) for his (teacher aggregation).[1] [2] Bruckner's examination, which was held in Linz on 27 and 28 May 1845, was successful.[3]
A slightly modified,[4] [2] second version was dedicated to Alois Knauer, the parish priest of Kronstorf.[1] The performance occurred on 21 June 1845 (Knauer's name day) or the evening before.[3]
The third version, entitled (Forget-me-not), was sent to Friedrich Mayer, who was at that time prebendary and choirmaster of the St. Florian Abbey,[1] to remind him of the promise to provide Bruckner with an employment in the Abbey after his successful teacher examination. It is not known when it was performed.[3] [5]
The manuscripts of the first and second versions are stored at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. The manuscript of the third version is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey. A facsimile of the third version was first issued in band I, pp. 286–300 of the Göllerich/Auer biography.[3]
The three versions of the cantata are put in Band XXII/1 No. 1 of the German: Gesamtausgabe.[6]
The work is based on the eleven-strophe poem (The mother and her child) by W. Dobelbaur.
The lovely boy sat on his mother's lap,And asked: “Dear mom, I am grown enough,Let me jump among the little flowers,I want to sing my little song to them | ” “So jump down”, said the mother then,“Restless you, you will not cease,But come back soon, sweet little boy!So jump and sing your little song | ” She kissed the boy heartily, who jumpedSprightly down the little hill,Soon he sang his little song in the shady valley,Jubilant; “Now I have everything!“ Up and down floated his song.His mother called: “Bring up flowers,Do not forget the flowers, light blue and small,They will be down there along the creek | ” The mother enjoyed the joyful floatingOf the little angel among the flowers,She prayed thankfully, mindfulThat the boy was a gift from Heaven. The flowers kissed the boy's mouth,They nodded to him in a dainty round,He laid down exhausted among them,And whispered: “I will go to sweet sleep.” Hidden under the flowery cover,The boy fell soon sweet and silent asleep;The mother called, but always in vain,“Where is my little child, Lord of my life?” She hurries, whining loudly, down to the valley,Called shuddering her darling hundred times,Cried heartbreakingly, in tormenting urge.There she saw – a shimmering snake! It curled and rustled away through the grass,Barely breathing, the mother spied at the place,A cry of horror from her breast,And she sank down, unconscious. Like a wilted flower in the dawn,So lay her lovely darling dead | With a painful smile in his pale face,His little hand held firmly – forget-me-not. |
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The cantata in D major is scored for choir, soloists and piano.[3] The 149-bar long work is in seven movements:[3] [2]
The third version is 7 bars shorter (142 bars), and the first duet: soprano and alto, is replaced by a duet: soprano and tenor.[3]
A rendition of the cantata using a notation software can be heard on Vergissmeinnicht, WAB 93c – entire chorus practice