Sharing Music Memories

Bruckner Psalm 146 in A & Requiem in d minor – First CD Releases


Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Bruckner Requiem i d minor & Psalm 146 in A - First CD releasesKHCD-2011-092 (STEREO) – Requiem in d minor, WAB 39 (1849 – Edition: Haas/Orel) – Herrad Wehrung, soprano; Hildegard Laurich, alto; Friedreich Melzer, tenor;Günter Reich, bass; Laubacher Kantorei; Instrumental-Ensemble Werner Keltsch – Conducted by Hans Michael Beuerle – Psalm 146 in A, WAB 37 (ca. 1856 – Fair copy in Bruckner’s hand) – Ursula Wendt, soprano; Ingebord Russ, alto; Freider Stricker, tenor; Siegmund Nimsgern, bass; Hans Sachs-Chor; Lehrergesangverein Nürnberg (second chorus on Track 15; Wolfram Röhrig, rehearsal conductor); Nürnberg Symphoniker – Conducted by Wolfgang Riedelbauch – First CD Release –Landmark recordings of early Bruckner works. The Requiem was composed in memoriam to Franz Sailer, the notary of the St. Florian monastery. The Requiem was premiered on September 15, 1849, a year after Sailer’s death. This performance of the Requiem, recorded by Cantate in 1972, was once briefly available on a Nonesuch LP in the early 70s. This transcription uses the superior pressing Cantate LP as its source. The Psalm 146 was a product of Bruckner’s study with Simon Sechter, presumably around 1856. It exists as a yet unpublished manuscript, and the manuscript materials were used in the first modern performance in November 1971, and the subsequent recording made by Colosseum in 1973. A mint LP of that recording was used for this disc. Both of these recordings are being released for the first time on CD. I wish to thank John Proffitt for suggesting this project; and John F. Berky, of the Anton Bruckner Discography (www.abruckner.com) for the lending of the archival LPs used in producing this CD. The MP3 sample on the Klassic Haus Restorations website includes excerpts from the Requiem (Dies irae) and Psalm 146 (Final Chorus – Allelujah, lobet den Herrn.

This was a special project initiated by John Proffitt, CEO of KUHF-FM, the NPR affilliate in Houston, TX. He had brought up the reissue of the Nonesuch LP of the Bruckner Requiem conducted by Hans Michael Beuerle, as well as possibly adding the Psalm 146 on a very rare Colosseum LP.  I had found a copy of both and was ready to proceed; in the meantime he had contacted John F. Berky, who compiles and manages the Bruckner Discography (see link above). He contacted me, an offered to send mint archival copies of the Requiem (on the original Cantate LP, from which the Nonesuch LP was derived, and a superior pressing to the Nonesuch) and Psalm 146. I accepted, and the CD I have produced is the result. Both recordings have not been released on CD previously, and are worthy of repeated listening. The Psalm 146 is a special treat; very lyrical, Schubertian in many places, with many hints of later development in Bruckner’s mature style. This is an exceptional collection of two unique choral pieces in the true Romantic vein.

Cheers – Curt Timmons

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