Four Tantum ergo, WAB 41


The four Tantum ergo, WAB 41, are settings of the hymn Tantum ergo composed by Anton Bruckner in 1846.

History

Bruckner composed these four motets A.M.D.G. in 1846 at the beginning of his stay at St. Florian Abbey. The original manuscript, which was stored in the archive of Neuer Dom of Linz, was lost in the process. Voice scores can still be found in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey.
In 1888, Bruckner revised these four settings, as well as the [Tantum ergo, Werkverzeichnis Anton Bruckners|WAB 42|next setting] in D major. The revised version of the five Tantum ergo was published first by Johann Groß, Innsbruck in 1893. In this first edition the ordering for the 4 compositions was deviating from the original ordering by the composer. The WAB ordering, which is based on this first edition, deviates also from the original ordering by the composer.
The 1846 and 1888 versions are put in Band XXI/12 and 37 of the Gesamtausgabe respectively.

Music

The works are scored for [SATB|] choir and organ ad lib. The first setting, in B-flat major is 25-bar long. The three other settings in A-flat major, E-flat major, and C major, are 24-bar long. Afterwards a 2- bar Amen was added to the settings.
In the 1888 version the settings are score for mixed choir a cappella. In the setting in E-flat major the Dresden amen is used on "ritui".

Selected discography

The first recording occurred in 1931:
  • Ferdinand Habel, Domchor zu St. Stephan – 78 rpm Christschall 130A

1846 version

There is a single recording with all four Tantum ergo:
  • Thomas Kerbl, Chorvereinigung Bruckner 09, Anton Bruckner Chöre/Klaviermusik – CD: LIVA 034

1888 version

There are four recordings with all four Tantum ergo: