Josef Anton Bruckner (1824 – 1896) was an Austrian
composer and organist best known for his symphonies and
sacred music, which includes Masses, Te Deum and
motets. The symphonies are considered emblematic of the
final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of
their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic
character, and considerable length. His compositions
helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing
to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and
roving harmonies. (+)
Josef Anton Bruckner (1824 – 1896) was an Austrian
composer and organist best known for his symphonies and
sacred music, which includes Masses, Te Deum and
motets. The symphonies are considered emblematic of the
final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of
their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic
character, and considerable length. His compositions
helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing
to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and
roving harmonies.
Unlike other musical radicals such as Richard Wagner
and Hugo Wolf, Bruckner showed respect, even humility,
before other famous musicians, Wagner in particular.
This apparent dichotomy between Bruckner the man and
Bruckner the composer hampers efforts to describe his
life in a way that gives a straightforward context for
his music. Hans von Bülow described him as "half
genius, half simpleton". Bruckner was critical of his
own work and often reworked his compositions. There are
several versions of many of his works.
His works, the symphonies in particular, had
detractors, most notably the influential Austrian
critic Eduard Hanslick and other supporters of Johannes
Brahms, who pointed to their large size and use of
repetition, as well as to Bruckner's propensity for
revising many of his works, often with the assistance
of colleagues, and his apparent indecision about which
versions he preferred. On the other hand, Bruckner was
greatly admired by subsequent composers, including his
friend Gustav Mahler.
"In jener letzten der Nächte" ("In this last of
nights"), WAB 17, is a motet composed by Anton
Bruckner. He composed the motet in c. 1848 at St.
Florian Monastery for the celebration of Maundy
Thursday. However, it is not known whether it was
performed at that time. It was edited first by Anton
Böhm & Sohn, Augsburg & Vienna, 1931. There are two
settings: one for soloist and organ, and another for
mixed choir a cappella. The manuscript of the setting
for soloist and organ is stored in the archive of the
city museum of Wels. A transcription of the other
setting is found in the Österreichische
Nationalbibliothek. The two settings of the motet are
put in Band XXI/15 of the Gesamtausgabe.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_jener_letzten_der_N%C
3%A4chte).
Although originally created for Male Chorus (TTBB), I
created this Interpretation of "In jener letzten der
Nächte" (In this last of nights WAB 17) in F Minor for
String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC