Iam lucis orto sidere, WAB 18

Iam lucis orto sidere
Motet by Anton Bruckner

Nave of Wilhering Abbey Church
Key
Catalogue WAB 18
Language Latin
Composed
  • 1868 (1868): Linz (1st & 2nd settings)
  • 1886 (1886): Vienna (3rd setting)
Dedication Alois Dorfer
Published 1868 (1868): Wilhering Abbey
Vocal
  • SATB choir (1st & 2nd settings)
  • TTBB choir (3rd setting)
Instrumental
  • Organ (2nd setting)
  • a cappella (1st & 3rd settings)

Iam lucis orto sidere (Now that the daylight fills the sky), WAB 18, is a motet composed by Anton Bruckner in 1868. The work is also known as In S. Angelum custodem (In the custody of the holy angel). Bruckner revised the composition in 1886.

History

Bruckner composed this motet in the summer of 1868 for the Schutzengelbruderschaft ("Guardian angel confraternity") of Wilhering Abbey. Bruckner dedicated it to Adolf Dorfer, the abbot of the abbey.[1] Bruckner set the music on the text written by Robert Riepl, one of the priests working at the abbey.[2] Riepl's text is an adaptation of the text used by Orlande de Lassus.[3] Bruckner's original manuscript, which was stored in the abbey, is lost. A copy of it is stored in the archive of the Kremsmünster Abbey and two other copies are found in the Austrian National Library. The motet was published in 1868 by the Wilhering Abbey.[1][4]

In 1886, Bruckner made a new version of the motet for men's choir, which was published in the journal An den schönen blauen Donau, band 1, No. 8, p. 240, F. Mamroth, Vienna.[5]

The Gesamtausgabe includes two settings of the 1868 version in Band XXI/24, and the 1886 setting in Band XXI/35.[6]

Music

The first version in Phrygian mode, which Bruckner composed in 1868, is 24-bar long. Two settings are extant: a first with all eight verses of Riepl's text for SATB choir a cappella, and a second with only one verse of a different text for SATB choir and organ.[4] The motet is a simple, modally inspired piece and homophonic throughout.[1]

A new version of the motet in G minor, which Bruckner composed in 1886, is one bar shorter (23-bar long). It uses verses 1, 2, 7 and 8 of Riepl's text and is set for TTBB choir a cappella.[5]

Text of the first setting (Robert Riepl)

Iam lucis orto sidere
Dignare, custos Angele!
Mentis fugare nubila
Et alma ferre lumina;
Me recta prudens edoce,
Ur exsequar, me commone.

Fidus venis qui coelitus
Illuc redisque nuntius!
Preces, labores, lacrimas
Ad Regis aulam perferas;
Donum clientis parvulum
Reddas Datori munerum.

Miserrimum dulcissimo
Blandus fove solacio;
Salutis ad negotia
Me dormitantem concita.
Quando reluctor, argue;
Vires labanti suffice.

Puro refulgens lumine,
Quod emicat de Numine!
Me sanctitatis aemulum
A labe serves integrum.
Ne castitatis candida
Contaminentur lilia.

Firma repelle dextera
Vim daemonis sub tartara;
Carnis retunde fomitem,
Superbiae propaginem,
Tuis ut armis protegar
Palmamque victor consequar.

Cordis rigentis ferream
Perfringe pertinaciam;
Culpae gravatum sacrina
Manu potenti subleva
Poenasque sonti debitas
Fac suplicans ut arceas.

Fuga ruant quum turbida
Mortalis aevi tempora:
Caduca fac me temnere,
Aeterna semper quaerere,
Ut heareat mens fervida
Sublimis inter sidera.

Urgente pugna lugubri
Fortis paventi subveni;
Per mortis umbram dirige
Defende coram Judice
Laetaque de sententia
Fruar perenni gloria. Amen.

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
Let, Guardian Angel,
Banish unclear minds
And bring the nutritious light!
Teach me prudent the correct order
And admonish me to reach it!

Reliably you come from the Heaven
And returns as a messenger to it.
Bring the offers, pains and tears
To the King's court;
Provide the Giver of the talents
With a small present from the servant!

Foster me, the unfortunate, cuddling
With the sweetest consolation!
Prompt me, the dormant,
To the works of salvation!
Blame me, wen I hesitate,
Give me the force, wen I fall!

Radiant of the pure light,
Which floods out God,
I am in search of saintliness.
Beware me from stain,
So that the white lilies of chastity
Be not sullied.

By your powerful right repel
The powers of the devil to the hell;
Destroy the stimulant of the flesh,
Which arises from pride,
So that, protected by your arms,
I be victorious.

Break the inflexible obstinacy
Of the merciless heart;
I am oppressed by the burden of sin,
Relieve it by your powerful hand
And spare me the punishment of the guilty
By your prayers.

In stormy hurry the times
Of the temporal life will assault!
Let me disdain the ephemeral
And always seek the eternal,
So that my noble soul
Would remain in the Heaven.

Wen the death struggle is imminent,
Assist me, the quavery, firmly!
Guide me through the shades of the death,
Advocate me in front of the Judge
And on grounds of the acquittal
Might I enjoy the eternal splendour! Amen.

Text of the second setting

Iam lucis orto sidere
O Angele piissime!
Caecasmentis caligines
Splendore tuo dissipes;
Quae recta sunt, me edoce,
Ut faciam, me admone.

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
My holy angel,
By your brightness
Draw the darkness away of my soul;
Teach me the right way
And advise me to follow it.

Selected discography

The first recording occurred in 1976:

1868 version

There are a few other recordings of the first setting, all with deviations from the score:

There is only one recording of the second setting:

1886 version

There is only one recording of this version in accordance with the score:

References

  1. 1 2 3 C. Howie, chapter III, p. 95
  2. 1 2 Musikgeschichte des Zisterzienserstiftes Wilhering
  3. ↑ Jam lucis orto sidere (Orlando di Lasso) on ChoralWiki
  4. 1 2 C. van Zwol, p. 705
  5. 1 2 C. van Zwol, pp. 708-709
  6. ↑ Gesamtausgabe – Kleine Kirchenmusikwerke

Sources

External links

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