Vergißmeinnicht, WAB 93

Vergißmeinnicht (Forget-me-not), WAB 93, is a cantata composed by Anton Bruckner in 1845.

History
When he stayed in Kronstorf, Bruckner composed in 1845 the first version of this cantata as Musikalischer Versuch nach dem Kammer-Styl (Musical essay in chamber style), which he signed as Candidatus (candidate) for his Lehrbefähigungsprüfung (teacher aggregation). Bruckner's examination, which was held in Linz on 27 and 28 May 1845, was successful.

A slightly modified, second version was dedicated to Alois Knauer, the parish priest of Kronstorf. The performance occurred on 21 June 1845 (Knauer's name day) or the evening before.

The third version, entitled Vergißmeinnicht (Forget-me-not), was sent to Friedrich Mayer, who was at that time prebendary and choirmaster of the St. Florian Abbey, to remind him of the promise to provide Bruckner with an employment in the Abbey after his successful teacher examination. It is not known when it was performed.

The manuscripts of the first and second versions are stored at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. The manuscript of the third version is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey. A facsimile of the third version was first issued in band I, pp. 286–300 of the Göllerich/Auer biography.

The three versions of the cantata are put in Band XXII/1 No. 1 of the Gesamtausgabe.

Text
The work is based on the eleven-strophe poem Die Mutter und ihr Kind (The mother and her child) by W. Dobelbaur.

Setting
The cantata in D major is scored for SSAATTBB choir, SATB soloists and piano. The 149-bar long work is in seven movements: The third version is 7 bars shorter (142 bars), and the first duet: soprano and alto, is replaced by a duet: soprano and tenor.
 * 1) Eingangschor: Es blühten wunderschön auf der Aue - four-part mixed choir
 * 2) Recitative: Der Knabe saß hold auf der Mutter Schooß - soprano and alto
 * 3) Arie: Sie küsste den Knaben herzlich - soprano and alto
 * 4) Duet: Die Mutter erfreute das freudige Schweben - soprano and alto, Allegro
 * 5) Quartet: Verborgen unter blumiger Hülle - soprano, alto, tenor and bass
 * 6) Duet: Die ringelt' und raschelt' im Grase fort - tenor and bass, Moderato
 * 7) Schlußchor: Wie welkt ein Blümchen im Morgenroth - eight-part mixed choir  a cappella, Andante