Im April, WAB 75
| Im April | |
|---|---|
| Lied by Anton Bruckner | |
|
Spring Evening by Arnold Böcklin | |
| Key | A-flat major |
| Catalogue | WAB 75 |
| Text | Emanuel Geibel |
| Language | German |
| Composed | c. 1865 – Linz |
| Dedication | Helene Hofmann |
| Performed | 5 February 1903 – Vienna |
| Vocal | Solo voice |
| Instrumental | Piano |
Im April ("In April"), WAB 75 is a lied composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1865.
History
Bruckner composed the lied on a text of Emanuel Geibel during his stay in Linz. He dedicated the lied to his pupil Helene Hofmann, Pauline Hofmann's younger sister.[1][2]
The date of composition is uncertain. It was originally supposed that the lied was composed in 1868.[3] Because it was dedicated to "Helene Hofmann", Angela Pachovsky put the date "before 18 September 1865" instead,[4] i.e., before Helene's wedding with Heinrich Heissler.[2]
The manuscript is lost, but a copy is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey.[2] In 1898 the work was issued by Bernhard Herzmansky by Doblinger.[3][2] The first performance occurred on 5 February 1903 by Gisela Seehofer in a concert of the Wiener Akademischer Wagner-Verein,[3] during which Seehofer sung also Bruckner's Ave Maria, WAB 7 and Wie bist du, Frühling, gut und treu.[2]
The song is issued in Band XXIII/1, No. 5 of the Gesamtausgabe.[4]
Text and music
The song uses a text by Emanuel Geibel.
Du feuchter Frühlingsabend, |
You, damp spring evening, |
The 60-bar long work in A major is scored for solo voice and piano.[2]
Discography
There a single recording of Im April:
- Robert Holzer (bass), Thomas Kerbl (piano), Anton Bruckner Lieder/Magnificat – CD: LIVA 046, 2011. NB: Transposed in G major.
References
- ↑ C. Howie, Chapter III, p. 117
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 C. van Zwol, pp. 717-718
- 1 2 3 U. Harten, p. 210
- 1 2 Gesamtausgabe – Lieder für Gesang und Klavier
Sources
- Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XXIII/1: Songs for voice and piano (1851–1882), Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Angela Pachovsky (Editor), Vienna, 1997
- Cornelis van Zwol, Anton Bruckner 1824–1896 – Leven en werken, uitg. Thoth, Bussum, Netherlands, 2012. ISBN 978-90-6868-590-9
- Uwe Harten, Anton Bruckner. Ein Handbuch. Residenz Verlag, Salzburg, 1996. ISBN 3-7017-1030-9.
- Crawford Howie, Anton Bruckner - A documentary biography, online revised edition
External links
- Im April As-Dur, WAB 75 – Critical discography by Hans Roelofs (German)
- A translation of Geibel's text is also available on The LiederNet Archive: "You damp spring evening".
- Robert Holzer's performance can also be heard on YouTube: A. Bruckner - Im April
