Bruckner, Anton - The Wedding Song

Bruckner composed this piece a wedding song, for the wedding of his landlord Anton Ölzelt Ritter von Newin with Amalie Edler von Wieser. The piece was to be performed during the ceremony in the church of the Klosterneuburg monastery. However, for personal reasons, the ceremony did not take place. It was originally written for four male voices. The original manuscript is in the archive of the Society of Friends of Music in Vienna. It was first published in 1910 in the yearbook of the Klosterneuburg Monastery (Vienna and Leipzig). It was republished by Wöss in 1921 together with the Ave Regina caelorum , WAB 8. It is included in volume XXIII/2, no. 30 of the complete edition. It is not known when the piece was first performed. The version presented here is for 3 tenor trombones and one bass trombone. Some voicings have been altered to favour trombones. Also, the key signature in the middle section has been altered to avoid accidentals. Otherwise, it is as the original. Despite its title, it is a piece suitable for sombre and serious occasions though it is quite dramatic. It is ideal to play in warm church acoustics. Paul St John-Smith