Der Abendhimmel, WAB 55

 ("The evening sky"), WAB 55, is a song composed by Anton Bruckner in 1862.
History.
Bruckner composed this first setting of "evening song" "Der Abendhimmel" in January 1862. He used for the composition a text of Joseph Christian von Zedlitz, which he would also use for a second setting of the song in 1866. Bruckner dedicated the song to the men's quartet Anton Munsch (1st tenor), Anton Stiefler (2nd tenor), Eduard Benoni (1st bass) and Mathias Weissmann (2nd bass).
The piece was performed first in a transcription for men's choir by the Liedertafel "Frohsinn" on 4 July 1900. The commentator of the ' (7 July 1900) wrote over a ' (a wonderful composition of our national master Dr. Anton Bruckner).
The original manuscript is stored in the archive of "Österreichische Nationalbibliothek". It was first issued in Band III/2, pp. 18–20 of the Göllerich/Auer biography. It is issued in Band XXIII/2, No. 15 of the "".
Text.
Der Abendhimmel is using a text of Joseph Christian von Zedlitz.
Music.
The 38-bar long work in 6/8 is in A-flat major. It is scored for quartet "a cappella".
Discography.
There are two recordings of "Der Abendhimmel", WAB 55: