Zelenka - "Missa Votiva" in E Minor ZWV18 - Mov. 1-4/20

JAN DISMAS ZELENKA (1679-1745)

"Missa Votiva" for SATB choir, SATB soloists, two oboes, strings, and basso continuo in E minor ZWV18

I. KYRIE

1. Kyrie I (choir)

2. Christe eleison (soprano solo)

3. Kyrie II (choir)

4. Kyrie III (choir)

Performed by Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704
Directed by Vaclav Luks

TEXT (English)

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

*Zelenka's "Missa votiva" was written as the fulfillment of a vow he made upon recovering from a severe illness in 1739. The autograph inscription on the cover of the score reads 'Vota mea Domino reddam. Psal: 115. Versu 5...'. The fifth verse of psalm 115 is 'vota mea Domino reddam coram populo ejus' (I will pay my vows to the Lord, before all his people).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• baroque
• classical
• bach
• handel
• vivaldi
• telemann
• pisendel
• requiem
• miserere
• pachelbel
• canon
• trio
• sonata
• purificationis

[kirschhofbarokni]

Well, yes it is, but this orchesta is a big exception. They've won prices in germany on Bach's fest and so on. They are definitely not bad, I've heard them live, and it was a huge experience.

[inchesa1]

very beutiful music nice

[unwrought]

Thanks a lot for such praise. One day I would love to adapt some Zelenka for guitar, just for my pleasure, but the scores are harly to be get. So I should put something else on my channel meanwhile...hope to do soon.

[TheGoodWinston]

@unwrought

The most important thing is that Zelenka was an excellent composer, among the greatest of the Baroque era, and his music should be appreciated for all time. It is tragic how little recognition he is given, thus I support wholeheartedly his promotion in musical circles and the wider world in general.

By the way your channel is very good. I'm a guitarist myself, it seems I have much to learn lol. :)

[TheGoodWinston]

@unwrought

That sound's like a good experiment, but I assure you I judge the music only.

My parallel was apt, methinks. Bach only had the post of Kappelmeister at Cöthen from 1717-1723.

I don't think Zelenka holds a candle to Bach in fugue-writing, despite his grasp of counterpoint.

[unwrought]

@unwrought and reputation, but by the inner quality and liveness of the music. I am quite sure you would be surprised. Bach and Zelenka stand hand in hand as two utmost highlights of /not only/ baroque music.

[unwrought]

@unwrought ...so let's go to the point: I'm quite sure I can not convince you as you state that Z-ka's music is not good enough as the whole !! If you do not hear it in the music itself, no words can persuade you, that is clear. The overall quality and spiritual profundity of Z-ka's music is in fact its most remarkable characteristic. If you listened to two different musical samples not knowing which one is which - one by Bach, the other by Z-ka, than you could really judge.Not just by name and

[unwrought]

@unwrought ..the work he was paid for and at the same time /on his own expenses in his own free time/ take place for J.Heinichen - the Kappellmeister, who was seriously ill for a long period. Z-ka not only had to write music for all occasions /he wrote the great Rekquiem and Officium Defunctorum within 11 days!/, moreover he had to play the bass under different conductors and conduct different music. The position of Bach was completely different. There is not enough place to explain it here, so

[unwrought]

@TheGoodWinston It should not be an excuse. I am not sure whether you know enough about the life of Z-ka, otherwise you could not have make such rough parrallel. The contract of Bach was quite different to that of Z-ka, there is a great book by Janice Stokigt or even better /unfortunatelly only in czech still/ by Jaroslav Smolka. Once you read it you will think different about Z-ka. Zelenka was never appointed for "Kapellmeister", so that he was to play a double bass in the orchestra - this was

[TheGoodWinston]

@unwrought

Using a chromatic sequence alone doesn't automatically mean one has mastery over contrapuntal affairs. Even I, a foolish young ne'er-do-well, could write some rudimentary counterpoint over a chromatic subject with relative adherence to harmonic principle, but what of it? To use it so often is somewhat mischievous, I reckon.

'Exotic' here means unorthodox, innovative segments of music.

I honestly don't see why he should be elevated to Bach's level, but I will listen to more of Z-man

[TheGoodWinston]

@unwrought

That is no excuse, since Bach of people spent most of his professional life in service of the Lutheran Church, yet still found enough time to fulfill his creative ambition. How are Zelenka's pieces noteworthy, beyond the virtuosic flurry of contrapuntal notes and often daring harmonic activity?

The work must be taken as a whole. A whole. In this respect, Zelenka is not the same as Bach, rather he is inferior. I agree he must find his way into classical repertoire.

[unwrought]

@TheGoodWinston and by the way - what do you mean when you say "exotic" material. He did not use any exotic material except of a mastercraft of counterpoint, he used a lot of chromatic sequences - again far more /listen to his great fugues in Missa Sanctissimae Trinitatis a-minor or Missa Purificationis...for example)than any other baroque composer /with the exception of Bach/, he employed bass-section of the orchestra in a manner never before to be heard /sinfonia from I Penitenti al...forExple