Follow

now i know why we are not up to standard.
for those choir ppl who are reading this,
hear locus ite.
sung By The Corydon Singers.

In contrast to his long and difficult symphonies in their many versions, Bruckner wrote very accessible choral music. This locus iste is simple and profound. The score reveals the beautiful voice leading. The simplest touches are magical like the places where only the basses sing on the first beat.

The harmony is masterful-the first phrase in c major but immediately moving to the dominant and then beautiful sequences initiated by the rising bass on “inaestimabile sacramentum”. The harmony on these words is quiet but mysterious-the G moves to Gmin-D9-A-C-Bmag-Emin. Then the last phrase “irreprehensibilis est” B-Gmin-A-Fmin-G–back to C for a quiet ending. This is a great example of how a great master can utilize basic triads to create the perfect blending of words and pacing.