In 1993, Armin Kircher, as organiser of the Austrian Church Music Workshop, contacted Bertold Hummel with a view to enlisting his musical collaboration. Up until 1999, Hummel repeatedly composed short liturgical choral pieces at short notice on the respective themes of the Werkwoche, which were published in the six publications listed below. Between 1993 and 1999, Hummel attended events at the Work Weeks on several occasions, and a collegial and friendly relationship developed between the two musicians. On 2 February 1994, Armin Kircher was one of the organists at the world premiere of the organ work *Ad missam*, Op. 97f, in Salzburg Cathedral.

The following liturgical works were commissioned and edited by Armin Kircher:

For the Wedding – New compositions for wedding services for equal and mixed voices, with and without accompaniment
For the Opening (“May the Lord send you help”) for SATB
Doblinger-Verlag (ed.: Austrian Church Music Week), 1993 (order no.: 45 442)

Your Spirit Blows Where It Will – Songs on the Holy Spirit for equal and mixed voices, with or without accompaniment
Breathe into me, O Holy Spirit for 3 equal voices (SSA)
Breathe into me, O Holy Spirit for 4 mixed voices (SATB)
Come, Holy Spirit for 4 mixed voices (SATB)
Doblinger-Verlag (ed.: Austrian Church Music Week), 1994 (Order no.: 45 444)

I am the Resurrection and the Life – Hymns for a funeral service
- for four mixed voices with or without accompaniment
I am the Resurrection and the Life for 4 mixed voices (SATB)
Doblinger-Verlag (publisher: Austrian Church Music Week), 1995 (order no.: 45 448)
- for three mixed voices, with or without accompaniment
I Know That My Saviour Lives for 3 mixed voices (SAB)
Doblinger-Verlag (publisher: Austrian Church Music Week), 1995 (order no.: 45 446)
- for three equal voices, with or without accompaniment
May Angels Guide You to Paradise (from the Liturgy of the Dead) Motet for 3 equal voices (1995)
(Published by: Austrian Church Music Week), 1995 (Order no.: 64 611)

Thus saith the Lord – Gospel verses for the liturgical year for four mixed voices, with or without accompaniment
The Epiphany of the Lord: We Have Seen His Star for 4 mixed voices (SATB)
Doblinger-Verlag (publisher: Austrian Church Music Week), 1996 (order no.: 45 449)

Thus saith the Lord – Gospel verses for the church year for equal parts, 3 mixed parts and male voices
Second Sunday in Advent: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ (Luke 3:4, 6) for 3 mixed voices (SAT or B)
Palm Sunday/Good Friday – Call before the Passion: ‘Christ was obedient to the point of death’ for three mixed voices (SAT or B)
Easter Vigil – Hallelujah Psalm: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good (Ps. 118/117) for 3 mixed voices (SA T or B)
Thus says the Lord: ‘I am the way’ (John 14:6) for 3 mixed voices (SSA)
Doblinger-Verlag (publisher: Austrian Church Music Week), 1996 (order no.: 45 452)

Sing to the Lord. Choral pieces for worship – 1998 (out of print! – the rights to Hummel’s choral pieces are held by the Bertold Hummel Foundation)
Praise and Thanks: Now Praise God (hymn arrangement) GL 265 / Now Praise God (choral verse) GL 265
Kyrie: Lord, have mercy (choral coda) GL 463 / He who in his Word (choral coda) GL 485
Gloria: Praise and Honour (hymn arrangement) GL 486 Hallelujah: Hallelujah (choral coda in F major)
Offertory: Lord, our God (choral hymn)
Conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer: Amen (Choral coda)
Agnus Dei: Lamb of God (Choral Coda) GL 492
CV 91.001/00

Choral pieces for the church year – 1999 (out of print! – the rights to Hummel’s choral pieces are held by the Bertold Hummel Foundation)
Christmas: Star over Bethlehem
Epiphany: A Star Shines in the Sky
Lent: Turn us back, forgive our sins GL160 / Out of the Depths (Psalm 130)
Easter: This Is the Day GL 220 / Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven GL 576
Corpus Christi / Eucharist: Behold, the Bread We Share Here
All Saints’ Day / Life through Faith: O Friends of God, All Together GL 608 / Blessed Are Those Who Walk GL 614
Church: God Calls His People Together GL 640
Wedding / Baptism: May the Lord bless you
Psalms / Cantica: Psalm 130 ‘Out of the Depths’
CV 91.002/00

A Melancholy Christmas Carol (L. Zenetti)

Biography
Armin Kircher, born on 6 December 1966 in Kufstein, grew up in Breitenbach in Tyrol and took his school-leaving examination in 1985 at the Kollegium Borromaeum in Salzburg. He subsequently studied church music at the Mozarteum University of Music in Salzburg, graduating in 1991. He headed the Church Music Department of the Archdiocese of Salzburg and, from 1992, served as organisational director of the Austrian Church Music Workshop. He was also the cathedral choirmaster at St Peter’s Cathedral in Salzburg and organist at the Kajetanerkirche, home to the oldest surviving organ in the city of Salzburg. He edited numerous collections of early and modern choral music. Many of the refrain verses in the 2013 edition of the *Gotteslob* were penned by him. Kircher died on 12 October 2015, aged just 48, of heart failure whilst travelling by train from Salzburg to Vienna. Armin Kircher is buried at St Peter’s Cemetery in Salzburg.