wiki>>> This work was composed at the request of Johann Burgstaller, to be performed at the Linz Cathedral on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the diocese. It was completed by 28 April 1885 and sent to Burgstaller in mid-May. !!!!However, the work was not performed at that event, nor at any other event in Bruckner's lifetime.!!!!!!
Watching the coronation of Charles III and saw three trombones with the choir, but couldn't hear the music over the commentators. That brought me here.
Yes, comments spoil everything. Okay, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which was broadcast for the first time in history, sounded not without the voice of the announcer. But at the coronation of Charles III, it was possible to do without commenting on this coronation liturgy.
I'm performing this very impressive piece tonight with my choir in the "Old Cathedral" in Linz, where Anton Bruckner was organist. There was no church choir there, so Bruckner wrote his pieces for his own choir, the "Liedertafel" to be performed in church (like the "Ave Maria") - but this one was first performed after his death. I hope we will be serving Bruckner well!
No lie - trombones WERE ecclesiastical instruments at first. From the Yamaha Instrument Guide: "Trombones have been used in a variety of situations, including the courts of aristocrats, churches, and in military bands. However, beginning in the 18th century the instrument was seldom used in secular music. Instead, it was used much more often in religious situations such as in church. Trombones have a range similar to that of the human voice and are capable of producing awe-inspiring harmonies during concerts, so they began to be treated as "divine instruments." Composers therefore are said to have refrained from using trombones in music outside of masses, oratorios, or other religious music. Beethoven was the first to use trombones-until that point seen as religious instruments-in a secular symphony. "Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67" ("Fate"), first played in 1808, was the first symphony in which a trombone was used. Beethoven would go on to use trombones again in "Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68" ("Pastoral Symphony") and "Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125" ("The Choral"), building a foundation for the trombone to stand as a fixture in orchestras in the 19th century."
Anton Bruckner's liturgical music is amazing. Undoubtedly influenced by the Renaissance masters, but just has that slightly more dissonant "edge" to it. I heard that Brahms admired his choral works..
This work exhibits the changes in vocal music brought about by the Romantic period. We see dynamic markings ranging from FFF with marcato accents to ppp changing within a measure. Rapid vocal glissandos are found in the middle. There is liberal use of accidentals to cause brief key changes and harmonic dissonance.
Fun fact: while this choir is using modern Roman Latin pronunciation, in Bruckner's time and place, the Germanic pronunciation would have been used "Ekste zatserdos magnus [not "Eche sacherdos manyus"]." It gives the text a lot more bite!
There's a lot of versions of Ecce Sacerdos Magnus by various composers and they're all pretty weak in my view. Not Bruckner's though, this makes my hair stand on end.
