The Festgesang (Festive song), WAB 15, is a cantata composed by Anton Bruckner in 1855.

History 
This cantata, also called Jodok Cantata, is the last of three larger-scale occasional compositions.

Bruckner composed it on 6 December 1855 for the name-day of Jodok Stülz, the dean of the St. Florian Abbey, as a "Farewell to St. Florian", three weeks before he moved to Linz. The piece was intended to be performed on 13 December 1855 (Stülz's name day) or the evening before. The manuscript is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey.

The manuscript was retrieved in 1921 by Franz Xaver Müller in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey. A facsimile was first published in volume II/2, pp. 241–244 of the Göllerich/Auer biography. It is published in volume XXII/1 no. 5 of the .

Text 
The text used for the cantata is by an unknown author:
{|
|
|style="padding-left:2em;"|Saint Judoc came from a noble house,
the world's splendour was fortunate to him.
However, God was for him the supreme name,
and he had devoted himself to Him.

Retired in solitude,
He went his way blessedly
And stepped, so far from storm and waves,
Calmly up to the highest heaven!
Your mind was so focused on God,
That you feel what is right, is good.
You feel committed to the Lord,
And his law only is your delight.

You are the father of your flock,
Its salvation is really all your joy,
And you do not quiver before the labour
Cowardly back like a hireling.
You came from far away,
To help it in fight and death,
When you heard the news
That a bad scourge threatened it.

You care for the heart of the lovely children,
You bring the adults to God,
You know to combine seriousness with goodness
And alleviate consoling every need.
You are shining through your actions
And sustain your word by them,
And one never saw you drooped,
You proceeded even more strongly.

Noble knowledge adorns you, too,
You are an expert of history,
And what archives held enclosed
You have often brought to light.

So be God on your way,
He console you, should you be scared!
His grace will always meet you,
May he preserve you long for us!
|}

Setting 
The in total 143-bar long work in C major is scored for  choir and  soloists, and piano.

The cantata is in six parts:
 Recitative "Sankt Jodok sproß": bass soloist (bars 1–7)
 Aria "In Einsamkeit zurückgezogen": bass soloist (bars 8–23)
 Choir "Du bist der Vater": mixed choir (bars 27–79) Ziemlich langsam, gemütlich
 Aria "Du pflegst das Herz": soprano soloist (bars 80–102) Langsam, mit Gefühl
 Recitative "Nicht minder ziert": tenor soloist (bars 103–109)
 Finale "Heil unserm Vater": mixed choir (bars 100–143) Mäßig langsam

Despite it contains already own ideas of the composer, the 6-part cantata looks somewhat archaic with its two recitatives, arias and choir parts. The arias look back to baroque examples, in which a basso continuo instrument accompany the solo-singer. The choir parts – a little in the follow of Michael Haydn – refer with imitation phrases to  florid counterpoint.

Discography 
There is a single recording of the Festgesang:
 Thomas Kerbl, Chorvereinigung Bruckner 2011, Anton Bruckner Lieder/Magnificat – CD: LIVA 046, 2011

References

Sources 
 August Göllerich, Anton Bruckner. Ein Lebens- und Schaffens-Bild,  – posthumous edited by Max Auer by G. Bosse, Regensburg, 1932
 Anton Bruckner – Sämtliche Werke, Band XXII/1: Kantaten und Chorwerke I (1845–1855), Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag der Internationalen Bruckner-Gesellschaft, Franz Burkhart, Rudolf H. Führer and Leopold Nowak (Editor), Vienna, 1987 (Available on IMSLP: Neue Gesamtausgabe, XXII/1. Kantaten und Chorwerke Teil 1: Nr. 1-5)
 Uwe Harten, Anton Bruckner. Ein Handbuch. , Salzburg, 1996. 
 Cornelis van Zwol, Anton Bruckner 1824–1896 – Leven en werken, uitg. Thoth, Bussum, Netherlands, 2012. 
 Crawford Howie, Anton Bruckner - A documentary biography, online revised edition

External links 
 
 Festgesang C-Dur, WAB 15 Critical discography by Hans Roelofs 
 Thomas Kerbl's performance can be heard on YouTube: Kantate für Dechant Jodok Stulz, WAB 15

Cantatas by Anton Bruckner
1855 compositions
Compositions in C major