Joseph Eybler: Domine Deus, Gradual, HV 42

This gradual was composed by the
Austrian Hofkapellmeister Josef Eybler in 1826 for the birthday
gala of both Emperor Franz I. and Emperess Karoline Auguste (both were
born on February 8). Since 1823, Eybler had composed a new mass for this occasion
every year, mostly together with a new gradual and a new offertory. However, due to some
"indisposition" (as the chronicles of the Hofburgkapelle state), the gala
was cancelled in 1826. Instead, the premiere of the
Missa St. Mauritii (HV 4) together with this gradual "Domine Deus,
omnium creator" (HV 42) and the offertory "Magna et mirabilia" (HV 108)
took place on Thursday, February 2, 1826 – the feast of
Candlemas – in the Hofburgkapelle (the chapel of the imperial palace) in Vienna.

Following a rather long instrumental introduction, the gradual frequently switches
between piano and forte parts. The (relatively short) forte phrases appearing with
majestic and powerful lyrics like "justus", "omnipotens" or "aeternus"
are marked by a dotted rhythm in the strings, resulting in imperial power.
The piano phrases on the other hand with lyrics "et misericors" (and merciful),
"sanctifica", etc. are accompanied with runs of legato quavers, increasing
the expressive humbleness of the lyrics even further.

Despite a powerful beginning, the piece ends in a soft and suppliant style, with
the strings vanishing into the final chord.

Composer

Joseph Eybler (1765-1846)

Subtitle

Graduale, HV 42

Catalogue number

HV 42

Scoring

Coro SATB, Continuo, 2Vl., Va., Vc., Cb., 2Ob., 2Fag., 2Tbe., (2Trb. ad lib.), Tim.

Key

C-Dur

Editor

Reinhold Kainhofer

Publisher

Edition Kainhofer, Vienna

Language

Latin

Duration

ca. 3:30 min

Year

1826

Score information

Urtext

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