Choral works by Max Bruch

Max Bruch composed a number of choral works that were, during his lifetime, judged to be his most successful pieces. Instrumental music makes up only about a third of Bruch’s total output, while vocal music forms a considerably larger proportion. These works are described variously as oratorios and cantatas. His oratorios (mostly secular) are generally held to represent the best of his vocal writing. Some were of a religious character but many were based on mythological themes.

Many of Bruch’s large-scale oratorios were inspired by the unification of Germany of which he was an eager supporter. His subjects focused on national leaders as role models (the Greeks Odysseus and Achilles, the German Arminius, the Swedish Gustav Adolf, and the biblical Moses). Bruch’s compositions were eagerly taken up by the many amateur and professional choruses that were thriving in Germany at the time.

The New International Encyclopedia stated “the greatest master of the secular oratorio is Bruch.” George Putnam Upton wrote “His greatest successes…. have been made with his works in the cantata form, as he is a recognised master of writing for large masses of voices and instruments, though many of his solo melodies possess great beauty. In this class of his compositions the most conspicuous are Scenes from the Frithjof-Saga… Flight of the Holy Family, Roman Triumph Song, Roman Obsequies, Salamis, Fair Ellen, Odysseus and Rorate Coeli.”