GUIDANCE: When viewing a digital programme during the concert, we request lowering the brightness of your screen to avoid disturbing fellow audience members. Thank you. We kindly request that you do not print this digital programme, printed programmes will be available to buy at the concert.

EX CATHEDRA
CBSO Wind & Brass
Jeffrey Skidmore

We thank the Anglo-Austrian society for their generous support of this concert.

This performance will be recorded for broadcast at a later date. Listen back on BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday 22 October, 7.30pm

Running order:

Organ improvisation based on Bruckner Perger Präludium WAB 129
Missa sine nomine – Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina (1525-1594)
Kyrie
Gloria                                                                                                                          
Aequale WAB 114 Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Locus iste WAB 23                                                                  
Aequale WAB 149                                                                                   
Ave Maria WAB 6                                                                      
Inveni David WAB 19                                                             
Ecce sacerdos WAB 13                                                          
Miserere mei Gregorio Allegrio (1582-1652) ed. Ben Byram-Wigfield   

INTERVAL

Organ improvisation based on Bruckner Prelude No.1 WAB 127
Mass in E minor WAB 27 (1882) Anton Bruckner  
Kyrie – Feirleich
Gloria – Allegro
Credo – Allegro
Sanctus – Moderato
Benedictus – Ruhig; mehr langsam
Agnus Dei – Andante                                                                                                             

Scroll down for texts and translations

Programme Note

Exploring the Life and Sacred Music of Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner’s musical journey began in his childhood, learning the organ from his father – until his father’s untimely death in 1837, when young Anton was just 13. Sent to the Monastery of St. Florian to be a chorister, this spiritual and musical haven left its mark on Bruckner, and indeed, you could say he never really left. After training as a teacher and organist, he gained recognition as a choir trainer and an organist with extraordinary improvisational skills.

Bruckner’s career took him from Linz to Vienna, where he taught at the Conservatory and University while immersing himself in sacred and secular music. His influences ranged from Palestrina, Lotti, Albrechtsberger, Bach and Haydn, to Wagner, whose music he adored.  His deep admiration for Wagner influenced his bold harmonic choices – evident in both his symphonies and sacred works.

Though mainly celebrated for his symphonies, Bruckner’s sacred music is a testament to his unwavering faith and his unique blend of ancient and modern musical styles. Friendships with Wagner and Gustav Mahler (Mahler was one of his pupils) helped slowly to promote his work, and his skill as an improviser on the organ was legendary—drawing crowds in Paris, London (where he performed in the Albert Hall and Crystal Palace in 1871), and beyond.

Today’s Programme

Today’s concert showcases works from Bruckner’s early life, focusing on his sacred compositions. Each half of the programme begins with organ improvisations inspired by Bruckner’s own shorter works, reminding us of his legendary improvisatory flair.

We’ll hear his Two Aequali for three trombones, written in 1847 for his aunt’s funeral. These sombre yet touching pieces are early examples of Bruckner’s penchant for funereal colours, similar in tone to Beethoven’s three Aequali for four trombones composed for Linz, and later performed with added words at his own funeral in Vienna in 1827.

Also featured are four of Bruckner’s finest motets, each embodying his reverence and intimate knowledge of liturgical texts and his mastery of choral writing:

• Ave Maria (1861) – Written in Linz after a marathon period of study with the great Viennese teacher Simon Sechter, performed by the award-winning choir Bruckner conducted, the Liedertafel Frohsinn.
• Locus iste (1869) – Composed for the dedication of the Votive Chapel at the New Linz Cathedral. Short but beautifully sweet.
• Inveni David (1868) – Written for the 24th anniversary of the Liedertafel Frohsinn, complete with majestic alleluia’s that reference Handel’s Hallelujah chorus
• Ecce sacerdos (1885) – A grand antiphon for organ, three trombones, and an eight-part choir, composed for the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Linz. It creates the majestic, ceremonial splendour of Gabrieli’s Venice.

We conclude with Bruckner’s Mass in E minor, commissioned in 1866 by Bishop Franz-Josef Rudigier for the dedication of the Votive Chapel of the New Cathedral in Linz. This extraordinary work, initially performed outdoors on a building site (the chapel was unfinished) in 1869, underwent several revisions before Bruckner completed the final version in 1882. Scored for wind instruments and an eight-part choir, this Mass is one of his greatest sacred works, encapsulating the influence of the Cecilian movement, which sought to revive the pure, devotional spirit of Renaissance sacred music, especially that of Palestrina.

Complementary Works

Also featured tonight is Palestrina’s Missa sine nomine, a model of Renaissance polyphony that inspired the Cecilian movement, which sought to revive the pure, spiritual sound of earlier sacred music. J.S. Bach himself was fascinated by this work, copying and orchestrating sections of it in 1742 to form a Lutheran Mass.  It was a time when he was preparing for the final complete version of the Mass in B minor.

Allegri’s Miserere’s link to the programme is partly the association with the precocious Mozart who wrote down the piece on hearing it only once in the Sistine Chapel!   Not quite true but a good story.  I have made several editions of this intriguing work and wanted, on this occasion, to create a hybrid version where some verses follow the original Allegri, some the 18th century embellished versions and some the purely fictitious and erroneous 20th century version with the exquisite soprano top Cs!  I was delighted when I discovered the edition by Ben Bryam-Wigfield which does exactly that.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the sacred music of Anton Bruckner. We hope you find inspiration, solace, and perhaps a few surprises in tonight’s performance.

Performers

EX CATHEDRA
Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
CBSO Wind & Brass

Soprano: Marianne Ayling, Alexandra Burstow**, Ros Crouch, Caroline Halls, Naomi Hedges, Sophie Henderson**, Margaret Langford, Alice Madden^, Rebecca Mills, Hannah Rowe^, Shirley Scott, Beth Taylor~, Katie Trethewey, Maria Willsher***

Alto: Sarah Colgan~, Molly Fry^, Martin Hodgkinson, Sam Mitchell, Rebecca Lloyd, Suzie Purkis, Andrew Round, Laura Toomey***

Tenor: Isaac Boulter, Tony Dean, Alex Dixon^, Nick Drew, Tom Hawkey-Soar***, Dan Marles**, Andrew Morton*, Jeremy Reid, Iain Sloan, James Wells

Bass: Robert Asher, Oliver Barker*, Jeremy Burrows, Christopher Churcher, John Cotterill, Richard Green, Ollie Neale, Matt Pandya**, Nick Perfect, Bill Robinson, Peter Scurlock, William Swinnerton***, Josh Thompson**, Lawrence White

Allegri quartet: Katie Trethewey, Caroline Halls, Sam Mitchell, Lawrence White
Allegri cantor: James Wells

* denotes Ex Cathedra Graduate Scholar
** denotes Ex Cathedra Student Scholar
*** denotes Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Student Scholar
^ denotes University of Birmingham Student Scholar
~ denotes Ex Cathedra Enhanced Scholar

Organ: Rupert Jeffcoat

CBSO Wind and Brass

Oboe: Emmet Byrne, Rachael Pankhurst
Clarinets:  Oliver Janes, Mark O’Brien
Bassoon: Nikolaj Henriques, Tony Liu
Horn: Elspeth Dutch, Martin Wright,Mark Phillips, Jeremy Bushell
Trumpet: Jason Lewis, Stuart Essenhigh
Trombone: Richard Watkin, Anthony Howe
Bass Trombone: David Vines

Texts and Translations

Palestrina Missa sine nomine – Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina (1525-1594)

Kyrie
Kyrie eleison.
Lord have mercy upon us
Christe eleison.
Christ have mercy upon us
Kyrie eleison.
Lord have mercy upon us.

Gloria
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
And on earth peace to men of goodwill
Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam
We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory
Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens
Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty
Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Thou that takest away the sins of the world
miserere nobis
have mercy upon us
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Thou that takest away the sins of the world
suscipe deprecati onem nostram
receive our prayer
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God
Miserere nobis
the Father, have mercy upon us
Quoniam tu solus sanctus
For Thou only art holy
Tu solus Domninus
Thou only art the Lord
Tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe
Thou only, O Jesus Christ, art most high
cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris
together with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father
Amen
Amen.

Locus iste – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Locus iste a Deo factus est
This place was made by God
inaestimabile sacramantum
a priceless sacrament
irreprehensibilis est
it is without reproach

Ave Maria

Ave Maria gratia plena
Hail Mary, full of grace
Dominus tecum
The Lord is with Thee
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Blessed art Thou amongst women
Et benedictis fructus ventris tui, Jesus
And Blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Pray for us sinners
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae
Now and in the hour of our death
Amen
Amen

Inveni David

Inveni David servum meum
I have found David, my servant
oleo sancto meo unxi eum
I have anointed him with my holy oil
Manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei
For my hand shall aid him
et brachium meum confortabit eum
and my arm shall strengthen him
Alleluja
Alleluia

Ecce sacerdos

Ecce sacerdos magnus, qui in diebus suis placuit Deo
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God
Ideo jurejurando fecit illum Dominus crescere in plebem suam
Therefore by an oath the Lord made him increase among his people
Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi, et testamentum suum confirmavit super caput ejus
He gave him the blessing of all nations and confirmed his covenant upon his head
Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever
semper, et in saecula saeculorum
shall be, world without end
Amen
Amen

Miserere mei – Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)

Miserere mei, Deus
secundum magnam misericordiam tuam
Have mercy upon me, O God
according to thy loving kindness
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum
tuarum: dele iniquitatem meam
according to the multitude of thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea
et a peccato meo munda me
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco
et peccatum meum contra me est semper
For I acknowledge my transgressions
and my sin is ever before me
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci
Against thee alone, have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight
ut justificeris in sermonibus buis, et vincas cum judicaris
that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and clear when thou judgest
Ecce, enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum
et in peccatis concepit me mater mea
Behold, I was conceived in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi
Behold, thou desirest truth, and so that I should know wisdom, thou hast revealed to me what was unclear and hidden
Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis
et omnes iniquitates meas dele
Hide thy face from my sins: and blot out all mine iniquities
Cor mundum crea inme Deus
Et spiritum rectum innova invisceribus meis
Create in me a clean heart, O God
and renew a right spirit within me
Ne projicias me a facie tua
et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me
Cast me not away from thy presence
and take not thy holy Spirit from me
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui
et spiritu principali confirma me
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit
Docebo iniquos vias tuas
et impii ad te convertentur
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways
and sinners shall be converted unto thee
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae
et exultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam
Deliver me from bloodthirsty men, O Lord
thou God of my salvation
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness
Domine, labia mea aperies
et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam
O Lord, open thou my lips
and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem, dedissem utique
holocaustis non delectaberis
For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I
give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus
cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion
ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion
that the walls of Jerusalem may be rebuilt
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes, et holocausta
tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, and
with burnt offering: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar

Mass in E Minor – Bruckner

Kyrie
Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy upon us
Christe eleison
Christ have mercy upon us
Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy upon us

Gloria

Gloria in excelsis Deo
Glory to God in the highest
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
And on earth peace to men of goodwill

Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam
We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory

Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens
Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty
Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father

Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us

Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us

Quoniam tu solus sanctus
tu solus Dominus
For Thou only art holy
Thou only art the Lord

tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe
Cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris
Thou only, O Jesus Christ, art most high, together with the Holy Spirit, in the flory of God the Father

Amen
Amen

Credo

Credo in unum Deum
I believe in one God

Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae
visibilium omnium et invisibilium
The Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible

Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum
Filium Dei unigenitum
et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula
And in one Lord, Jesus Chris, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine
Deum verum de Deo vero
genitum, non factum
consubstantialem Patri
per quem omnia facta sunt
qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis
God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God
Begotten not made, one in being with the Father by whom all things were made
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine:
et homo factus est
And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit out of the Virgin Mary:
And was made man.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis:
sub Pontio Pilato passus et sepultus est
He was crucified also for us, under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried

Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas
And the third day He rose, according to the Scriptures

Et ascendit in coelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris
and ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father

Et iterum veniterum venturus est
cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos cujus regni non erit finis
And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end

Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son

qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur
qui locutus est per Prophetas
Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified
Who spoke by the prophets

Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam
One holy catholic and apostolic Church

Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum
et exspecto resurrectionem, mortuorum
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins
And I ook for the resurrection of the dead

Et vitam venturi saeculi
And the life of the world to come

Amen
Amen

Sanctus

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua
Hosanna in excelsis
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory
Hosanna in the highest

Benedictus

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini
Hosanna in excelsis
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest

Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis
Dona nobis pacem
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us
Grant us thy peace

Meet the… musician

In this programme, we invite you to meet Suzie Purkis.

Be an Angel…

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to access extraordinary choral music and feel the wonderful benefits of singing, which is why we share our love of singing with as many people as possible through concerts, new commissions, recordings, training choirs for young singers, Scholarships, and community projects that reach 90,000 children and adults every year.
Your support is vital in helping us achieve our charitable mission to share great choral music with as many people as possible.
Our work is only possible thanks to the generous support of the many people listed in our Host of Angels. I should be delighted and enormously grateful if you would consider joining them and becoming a valued member of supporter programme – be an Angel and give the gift of singing today. Find out how by following this link.