Two Totenlieder
Motets by Anton Bruckner
Calliope, muse of elegy
Key	E-flat major, F major
Catalogue	WAB 47/1 & 47/2
Form	Elegy
Language	German
Composed	1852 (1852): St. Florian Abbey
Dedication	Funeral of Josef Seiberl
Published	1932 (1932): Regensburg
Vocal	SATB choir

The two Totenlieder, WAB 47/1 & 47/2, are elegies composed by Anton Bruckner in 1852.

History

Bruckner composed these two motets in 1852 for the funeral of his friend Josef Seiberl. The original manuscript is in the Stadtmuseum of Wels and a transcription is in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek.^[1]

The two Totenlieder were first published in band II/2, pp. 141–144 of the Göllerich/Auer biography.^[1] They are put in Band XXI/16 of the Gesamtausgabe.^[2]

Text

Music

The works are scored for SATB choir a cappella. The first setting in E-flat major is 10-bar long. The second setting in F major is 19-bar long.^[1]

Discography

There are a few recordings of the Totenlieder:

• Jürgen Jürgens, Monteverdi-Chor, Bruckner - Music of St Florian Period (II) - CD: BSVD-0111 (Bruckner Archive), 1985 - only the first Totenlied
• Duncan Ferguson, Choir of St. Mary's Cathedral of Edinburgh, Bruckner: Motets – CD: Delphian Records DCD34071, 2010
• Thomas Kerbl, Chorvereinigung Bruckner 2011, Anton Bruckner Lieder/Magnificat – CD: LIVA 046, 2011
• Philipp von Steinäcker, Vocalensemble Musica Saeculorum, Bruckner: Pange lingua - Motetten - CD: Fra Bernardo FB 1501271, 2015
• Łukasz Borowicz, Anton Bruckner: Requiem, RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin – CD: Accentus ACC30474, 2019