Herbstkummer, WAB 72

Herbstkummer ("Autumnal sorrow"), WAB 72 is a lied composed by Anton Bruckner in 1864.

History
Bruckner composed the lied on the text of "Ernst", in April 1864 during his stay in Linz. It is not known for which purpose the lied was composed.

The original manuscript is lost, but a copy of it is stored in the archive of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. A transcription by Emil Posch is also found in the city archive of Linz. In 1930, the work was published in Band III/2, pp. 152–157 of the Göllerich/Auer biography. The song is issued in Band XXIII/1, No. 3 of the Gesamtausgabe.

Text
The song uses a text by "Ernst".

Music
The 62-bar long work in E minor is scored for solo voice and piano. The emotional mood of the romantic text is outlined by triplet figures on the piano, chromatic developments, fermata, pauses and the contrast E major/E minor.

Discography
There are four recordings of Herbstkummer:
 * Marie Luise Bart-Larsson (soprano), Gernot Martzy (piano), Kammermusikalische Kostbarkeiten von Anton Bruckner – CD: Weinberg Records SW 01 036-2, 1996
 * Robert Holzer (bass), Thomas Kerbl (piano), Anton Bruckner Lieder/Magnificat – CD: LIVA 046, 2011. NB: Transposed in B minor.
 * Elisabeth Wimmer (soprano), Daniel Linton-France (piano) in: Bruckner, Anton – Böck liest Bruckner II – CD Gramola 99237, 2020
 * Calmus Ensemble Herbstkummer, WAB 72 - Bruckner Vocal – Carus, 2023 (Arr. Rathbone for Vocal Quartet)
 * Günther Groissböck (bass), Malcolm Martineau (piano) - Männerliebe und Leben – CD Gramola 99294, 2024