Arneth Cantata, WAB 61

Arneth Cantata Heil Vater! Dir zum hohen Feste
by Anton Bruckner
Ceiling of the library of the St. Florian Abbey
Key	D major
Catalogue	WAB 61
Form	Cantata
Text	Ernst Marinelli
Language	German
Composed	1852 (1852): St. Florian (1st version) 1857 (1857): St. Florian (2nd version)
Dedication	Michael Arneth (1st version) Friedrich Mayer (2nd version)
Vocal	SATTBB choir
Instrumental	3 horns, 2 trumpets, bass-trombone

The Arneth Cantata, WAB 61, is a cantata composed by Anton Bruckner in 1852.

Bruckner composed the cantata for the name-day of Michael Arneth, the prior of the St. Florian Abbey. The piece was performed on 29 September 1852 on the evening before Arneth's name day.

The original manuscript is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey. A facsimile of the cantata was first published in band II/1, pp. 116–128 of the Göllerich/Auer biography. It is put in Band XXII/1 No. 3a of the Gesamtausgabe.

There are two other versions of this celebratory composition:

The first version of the cantata (WAB 61a) is in seven movements:

The work is using a text by Franz Ernst Marinelli.

Heil Vater! Dir zum hohen Feste.
Es reichen wir und werte Gäste
Des Dankes und der Liebe Preis
Dir durch die Gunst der Musen.

Dir schlägt so treu und wahr und heiß
Das Herz in jedem Busen.

An dreißig Jahre mögen's sein,
Da standest du als Vater ein
Für uns in Gott zu sorgen
Und alle, die sich dir vertraut,
Die freudig auf dein Wort gebaut,
Sie waren wohl geborgen.

Drum bringen wir mit Jubel heut',
Was jedes Herz an Liebe beut,
Was jeder Mund für dich erfleht
Und jeder Blick dir froh gesteht
Am Weihaltar des Dankes dar.

Du wirktest treu und bieder hier,
Drum sahst du in der Canonie
Manch edle Brust erscheinen,
Du hast gelöst die schwere Pflicht
Und darum auch vergessen's nicht
Die Deinen!

Sie bringen dir mit Jubel heut'
Was jedes Herz an Liebe beut,
Was jeder Mund für dich erfleht
Und jeder Blick dir froh gesteht,
Sie rufen heut' im Brüderchor
Für dich den Dank des Herrn empor.

Hail father! To you on this noble celebration
We and worthy guests donate
The prize of gratitude and love
To you, favoured by the muses.

To you, faithfully, truly and fervently
The heart beats in every bosom.

It should be about thirty years,
Since you vouched as father
To care for us in God
And for all who trusted in you
And happily relied on your word;
They were well sheltered.

Therefore we offer today rejoycing
What every heart has in love,
What every mouth evokes for you,
And every look leaves you with joy,
On the blessed alter of thanks.

You acted faithfully and honestly here,
Therefore you saw within the Canonics
Many a noble heart appear,
You bore the heavy burden
And that is why your people will not
Forget you!

Today they bring to you with jubilation
What every heart has in love,
What every mouth evokes for you,
And every look leaves you with joy,
Today as a brotherly choir they evoke
For you the gratitude of the Lord.