| Im April | |
|---|---|
| Lied by Anton Bruckner | |
 Spring Evening by Arnold Böcklin | |
| Key | A-flat major |
| Catalogue | WAB 75 |
| Text | Emanuel Geibel |
| Language | German |
| Composed | c. 1865: Linz |
| Dedication | Helene Hofmann |
| Performed | 5 February 1903: Vienna |
| Vocal | Solo voice |
| Instrumental | Piano |
Im April ("In April"), WAB 75 is a lied composed by Anton Bruckner in c. 1865.
Bruckner composed the lied on a text of Emanuel Geibel during his stay in Linz. He dedicated the lied to his pupil Helene Hofmann, Pauline Hofmann's younger sister.[1][2]
The date of composition is uncertain. It was originally supposed that the lied was composed in 1868.[3] Because it was dedicated to "Helene Hofmann", Angela Pachovsky put the date "before 18 September 1865" instead,[4] i.e., before Helene's wedding with Heinrich Heissler.[2]
The manuscript is lost, but a copy is stored in the archive of the St. Florian Abbey.[2] In 1898 the work was issued by Bernhard Herzmansky by Doblinger.[3][2] The first performance occurred on 5 February 1903 by Gisela Seehofer in a concert of the Wiener Akademischer Wagner-Verein,[3] during which Seehofer sung also Bruckner's Ave Maria, WAB 7 and Wie bist du, Frühling, gut und treu.[2]
The song is issued in Band XXIII/1, No. 5 of the Gesamtausgabe.[4]
The song uses a text by Emanuel Geibel.
Du feuchter Frühlingsabend, |
You, damp spring evening, |
The 60-bar long work in A major is scored for solo voice and piano.[2]
There are three recordings of Im April:
