Psalm 112 (Bruckner)

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Psalm 112, WAB 35, is Anton Bruckner’s musical setting of a German version of Psalm 113 (which is Psalm 112 in the Latin Vulgate). He wrote it in 1863 in Linz after finishing studies with Sechter and Kitzler. It is written for a very large eight-part choir (SSAATTBB) and full orchestra. The manuscript is kept in the Austrian National Library. It is not known whether Bruckner ever had it performed in his lifetime. The work was first edited in 1926 by Wöss and likely received its first performance on 14 March 1926 in Vöcklabruck, conducted by Max Auer. A later critical edition by Paul Hawkshaw appeared in 1996 as part of Band XX/5 of the complete Bruckner edition. The Latin line “Den Demüthigen gibt Gott Gnade” (God gives grace to the humble) is part of the text. The scoring uses two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani and strings. The work has four sections with a clear repeating structure that comes from Kitzler’s teaching. It is praised for rich, powerful writing and mature skill, though the full recapitulation of the first part can feel a bit stiff. The first recording was around 1950 by Henry Swoboda with the Wiener Akademie Kammerchor and the Wiener Symphoniker (LP Westminster WAL 201). Swoboda’s historic performances of Psalms 112 and 150 have been released on CD by Klassichaus Recordings (GSC052, 2015).