The works in this programme exactly encompass the lifespan of Anton Bruckner. While Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Noctorno, re-written in 1826 for the wind ensemble of the spa town of Bad Doberan, was originally composed in the summer of 1824, Johannes Brahms wrote the Eleven Choral Preludes, his last completed work, in the shadow of Clara Schumann's death, in May and June 1896 in his summer residence in Ischl. Revered women also inspired Bruckner and Antonin Dvořák to their vocal works.
As a teaching assistant in Windhag Bruckner dedicated his simple setting of the mass, in the wind-accompanied style of country masses, to Anna Jobst, a „good and sensible alto singer“ as recorded by the Kremsmünster priest Gunther Kronecker and by Matthias Pernstein, who had been active in Kufstein since 1827. The Ave Maria for the „splendidly produced contralto voice“ of Luise Hochleitner, was composed by Bruckner 40 years later, after he had met the singer in Wels in the summer of 1881. During his summer stay in Sychrov in 1877 and 1879 Dvořák composed two songs with organ accompaniment for his wife, the alto Anna Dvořáková. By contrast he completed his Wind Serenade of 1878, a major 19th century contribution to the genre, within 14 days.
From 6 p.m. there will be festive wind music from Bruckner's time by the vicarage and birthplace. And after the concert the festivities continue with dance music of the 19th century, played by Die Strebitzer, a village band, on historical instruments.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847)
Nocturno in C major for eleven wind instruments, MWV P1 (1826)
Matthias Pernstein (1795–1851)
German Mass with a blessing song in F major for voice and wind (after 1827)
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Selection from the Eleven Choral Preludes for organ, Op. 122 (1896)
P. Gunther Kronecker (1803–1847)
German Communion Hymn („Wir werfen uns darnieder“) in Eb major for voice and wind (after 1826)
– Interval –
Anton Bruckner (1824–1896)
„Windhaager Mass“ in C major for alto, two horns and organ, WAB 25 (around 1842)
Ave Maria in F major for alto and organ, WAB 7 (1882)
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Ave Maria in F major for alto and organ, Op. 19b (1877)
„Ave maris stella“ in G minor for alto and organ, Op. 19b (1879)
Serenade in D minor for wind instruments, cello and double bass, Op. 44 (1878)
Christa Ratzenböck | mezzo-soprano
Gerhard Raab | organ
Calamus Consort on historical wind instruments
Ernst Schlader, Markus Springer | musical directors