Die Geburt, WAB 69

Die Geburt (The birth), WAB 69, is a song composed by Anton Bruckner in 1851 during his stay in St. Florian.

History
Bruckner composed this work on a text of an unknown author in 1851 during his stay in St. Florian. On 19 March 1852, he dedicated the song to his friend Josef Seiberl to celebrate his name day. It is not known whether it was performed at that time.

The original manuscript is stored in the archive of Wels. The work, which was first issued in Band II/2, pp. 147-150, of the Göllerich/Auer biography, is issued in Band XXIII/2, No. 8 of the Gesamtausgabe.

Text
Die Geburt uses a text by an unknown author.

Music
The 25-bar long work in D-flat major is scored for TTBB choir. The feurige (ardent) first 12 bars, in periods of 4 bars, have to be repeated three times - presumably foreseen for four couplets, of which only one has been retrieved. From bar 13, Und hast du das deine dann redlich getan, the Schubert-like song evolves slower to the end.