Despite the relative neglect of his works during his lifetime, the Czech Baroque composer Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) remains one of the most important figures of the era. Born in Louny, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), Zelenka spent most of his career in Dresden, first as a double bass player and later as a composer in the court orchestra of the Elector of Saxony.
Zelenka's extensive repertoire includes both sacred and secular music, with a particular emphasis on his well-known religious compositions. His musical style is characterized by its complexity, expressiveness, and innovative elements. His works feature intricate counterpoint, bold harmonies, and a distinctive orchestral palette. Zelenka was known for pushing the boundaries of conventional structures and harmonic progressions.
Despite Zelenka's significant contributions to the musical landscape, his works languished in obscurity after his death. It wasn't until the 20th century that a renaissance of appreciation for his compositions began. Today, Zelenka is celebrated for his distinctive and forward-looking approach to Baroque music, and his creations are embraced and performed by ensembles and orchestras around the world.
One of Zelenka's most notable compositions is the Missa Divi Xaverii, dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Jesuits, and composed in 1729. The circumstances of the work's intended occasion remain uncertain, but the extraordinary setting of the Ordinary (without the Credo) demonstrates Zelenka's mastery and originality. Due to the apparent haste with which it was composed, the autograph score is not only badly damaged, but also remarkably sketchy, with energetic and difficult-to-read pen strokes.
In this piece, Zelenka experimented boldly, especially with the scoring of unusually large orchestral forces. The brilliance of four trumpets, timpani, doubled woodwinds, and two horns, as well as the four vocal parts, often in dialogue with concertante flutes, oboes, and bassoon, demonstrate the composer's adventurous spirit. The "Quoniam tu solus" stands out as a true rarity, exuding musical splendor as the orchestra joins the solo quartet in the form of a brilliant concerto. The finale, "Dona nobis pacem," strikes a balance between jubilation and restraint, presenting sumptuous and glorious music.
Zelenka's extensive repertoire includes both sacred and secular music, with a particular emphasis on his well-known religious compositions. His musical style is characterized by its complexity, expressiveness, and innovative elements. His works feature intricate counterpoint, bold harmonies, and a distinctive orchestral palette. Zelenka was known for pushing the boundaries of conventional structures and harmonic progressions.
Despite Zelenka's significant contributions to the musical landscape, his works languished in obscurity after his death. It wasn't until the 20th century that a renaissance of appreciation for his compositions began. Today, Zelenka is celebrated for his distinctive and forward-looking approach to Baroque music, and his creations are embraced and performed by ensembles and orchestras around the world.
One of Zelenka's most notable compositions is the Missa Divi Xaverii, dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Jesuits, and composed in 1729. The circumstances of the work's intended occasion remain uncertain, but the extraordinary setting of the Ordinary (without the Credo) demonstrates Zelenka's mastery and originality. Due to the apparent haste with which it was composed, the autograph score is not only badly damaged, but also remarkably sketchy, with energetic and difficult-to-read pen strokes.
In this piece, Zelenka experimented boldly, especially with the scoring of unusually large orchestral forces. The brilliance of four trumpets, timpani, doubled woodwinds, and two horns, as well as the four vocal parts, often in dialogue with concertante flutes, oboes, and bassoon, demonstrate the composer's adventurous spirit. The "Quoniam tu solus" stands out as a true rarity, exuding musical splendor as the orchestra joins the solo quartet in the form of a brilliant concerto. The finale, "Dona nobis pacem," strikes a balance between jubilation and restraint, presenting sumptuous and glorious music.
Listen to: Collegium 1704 & Collegium Vocale 1704 o.l.v. Václav Luks
Choral Masterworks