Poland and Prague

Program: #15-30   Air Date: Jul 20, 2015

I. Audite, Gentes!: Psalms of the Golden Age. Accord CD ACD 214-2.

Musicians:

Paulina Ceremużyńska – soprano

Fernando Reyes – renaissance guitar, viola da mano

Carlos Castro – percussions

Mikołaj Gomółka’s Melodiae na Psałterz Polski (published in 1580 as a setting for Jan Kochanowski’s poems and dedicated to the Bishop of Cracow – Piotr Myszkowski) is probably one of the most important works in Polish music. From one point of view it is a work of tremendous originality (due to magnificent, innovatory lyrics in Polish), and from the other, a result of the most up to date and fashionable, contemporary European trends and musical currents. Seemingly simple in terms of style, psalms by Gomółka are a real collection of various musical forms from villanesca or villancico to frottola, canzonetta, villanella, etc. The style of these (usually homophonic and intended for more than three voices) pieces incorporates into its own form other forms, which can be referred to as more instrumental, such as dances that were popular at that time: chaconne, folia, bergamasca, canary, passamezzo, etc. The performance practice of all of these forms, including psalms obviously (and “canzonette spirituale” and other similar forms), gave the performers much more freedom than it might currently seem by taking a cursory look at the score. The score of each psalm is a suggestion, creating possibilities for countless interpretations: for four voices accompanied by lute, organ or other instruments; for solo voice accompanied by lute, vihuela or other harmonic as well as melodic instruments… Naturally, the psalms can also be performed with the accompaniment of percussion instruments (since in many psalms we recognize the presence of dance forms). In addition, Gomółka’s Psalms can be accompanied by “ritornellos” or preludes in form of these dances, which are incorporated in them in more or less concealed way. The possibilities of interpretation of this unique opus are vast. The lute arrangement (we use here the word “lute” to refer also to instruments such as vihuela, renaissance guitar…) is the one that lets us approach the text most closely and the one that stirs the emotions most.

Psalm 1: Szczesliwy, ktory nie byl miedzy zlemi w radzie (He blessed is who neither loosely treads), 4:24

2 Psalm 49: Sluchaj, co zywo! Wszystki ziemskie kraje nakloncie uszu (World-dwellers all, give heede to what I saie), 3:49

3 Psalm 96: Zacznicie nowa moznemu piesn (Sing, and let the song be new), 4:02

4 Psalm 20: Wsiadaj z dobrym sercem, o krolu cnotliwy (Lett God the Lord heare thee), 2:16

Paulina Ceremuzynska Soloist
Fernando Reyes Soloist
Carlos Castro Soloist

5 Melodie na Psalterz polski (Melodies on the Polish Psalter) (arr. F. Reyes for guitar and percussion), 2:31

Fernando Reyes Soloist

Melodie na Psalterz polski (Melodies on the Polish Psalter) (arr. F. Reyes for voice, guitar and percussion)

6 Psalm 137: Siedzac po niskich brzegach babilonskiej wody (Nigh seated where the river flowes), 2:42

7 Psalm 130: W troskach glebokich ponurzony (From depth of grief), 3:56

8 Psalm 77: Pana ja wzywac bede, dokadem zywy (To thee my crying call), 8:34

9 Psalm 7: W Tobie ja samym, Panie, czlowiek smutny, nadzieje klade (O Lord, my God, thou art my trusfull stay), 4:24

10 Psalm 91: Kto sie w opieke poda Panu swemu (To him the highest keepes), 4:45

Paulina Ceremuzynska Soloist
Fernando Reyes Soloist
Carlos Castro Soloist

11 Melodie na Psalterz polski (Melodies on the Polish Psalter) (arr. F. Reyes for guitar and percussion), 3:22

Fernando Reyes Soloist
Carlos Castro Soloist

12  Melodie na Psalterz polski (Melodies on the Polish Psalter) (arr. F. Reyes for voice, guitar and percussion), 6:37

Paulina Ceremuzynska Soloist
Fernando Reyes Soloist
Carlos Castro Soloist

13 Melodie na Psalterz polski (Melodies on the Polish Psalter) (arr. F. Reyes for guitar and percussion), 1:51

Fernando Reyes Soloist
Carlos Castro Soloist

Melodie na Psalterz polski (Melodies on the Polish Psalter) (arr. F. Reyes for voice, guitar and percussion)

14 Psalm 29: Niescie chwale, mocarze, Panu mocniejszemu (Ascribe unto the Lord of light),  3:20

Psalm 47: Kleszczmy rekoma wszyscy zgodliwie (All people, to Jehovah bring)

II. Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (The Sixteen directed by Eamonn Dougan). Coro CD 16130.

The third disc in The Sixteen’s acclaimed series of Polish music, conducted by Associate Conductor, Eamonn Dougan, explores the work of Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665–1734). Regarded as the outstanding Polish composer of the high baroque, Gorczycki studied in Prague and Vienna in his early years and returned to Kraków in 1690 where he took holy orders. He was appointed Magister capellae at Wawel Cathedral in 1698, a position he held until his death.

Like his predecessor Bartłomiej Pękiel (COR16110), Gorczycki wrote in both 'stile antico' and 'stile moderno'; the works featured in this recording display his skill in both genres. The Missa Rorate shows his mastery of counterpoint and sensitivity to word-setting, as does Illuxit Sol in which Gorczycki revels in the rhetoric of the text, painting it with lush five-part string writing; Conductus Funebris, a four-movement work setting text from the Burial Service, marries his contrapuntal skills with a more emphatic, declamatory style, while in the Litania de Providentia Divinae, Gorczycki unleashes the full power of his invention as he paints the virtues of "Divine Providence" with a glowing palate of colours.

Anon - Hejnal mariacki [0.32]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - In virtute tua Domine [4.50]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - O Rex gloriae, Domine [0.58]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - Illuxit sol [5.18]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - Missa Rorate [24.52]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - Conductus Funebris [18.52]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - Sepulto Domino [2.24]
Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (c1665-1734) - Litania de Providentia Divina [9.47]

III. Praga Magna (Capella Mariana/Vojtěch Semerád). Artevisio/Supraphon CD AV-0001-2.

At the end of the 16th century, Emperor Rudolf II summoned the finest artists to his residence in Prague, thereby transforming the city into one of the most important cultural centres in Europe. Court composer De Monte, who entered the service of the Habsburg emperor in 1568 after travels in Italy and England, was at that time one of Europe’s most renowned musicians. His 8-voice Missa Confitebor tibi Domine originates from that period. The Prague ensemble Cappella Mariana presents De Monte’s mass alongside several of his madrigals and works by his colleagues Zanchi and Regnart.

From Fabrice Fitch: The reign of Rudolf II (1576-1611) marked the zenith of Prague as an imperial capital. But whereas Rudolf’s patronage of the fine arts (and occultists of all stripes, for that matter) is the stuff of legend, his interest in music seems to have been limited. From his father and predecessor he inherited his chapel-master Philippe de Monte, and of all the contemporary musicians of comparable standing, Monte is arguably the least striking. Put another way, there were others active in Prague (Jacobus Gallus springs to mind) whose output might seem to us more in tune with the eccentric, eclectic atmosphere of Rudolph’s court. So the decision to illustrate its music on this recording with almost exclusive reference to Monte, while logical, somehow feels like a missed opportunity.

Perhaps it’s Monte’s apparent reluctance to engage with the structural potential of musical rhetoric that makes his music difficult to grasp nowadays. It’s unimpeachably well made, and its own reluctance to draw attention to itself might be considered a positive attribute. When performed as sympathetically as here, it is very enjoyable to listen to (the two Italian madrigals included here particularly so). Cappella Mariana use solo voices and instruments (cornetts, sackbuts, organ and theorbo). The overall sound is well blended, the individual timbres are most attractive and the sense of dedication and commitment is obvious. Does the music need grabbing yet more forcibly by the scruff of the neck? I still wonder; but don’t hesitate to puzzle the thing out for yourself.

The Music in Prague during the Reign of Rudolf II

1. Alessandro Orologio - Intrada V 2:29
2. Orlando di Lasso - Confitebor tibi Domine 3:26
Philippe de Monte - Missa super Confitebor tibi Domine *
3. Kyrie 3:25 *
4. Gloria 5:04 *
5. Philippe de Monte - Langue a'll vostro languir 2:39 *
Philippe de Monte - Missa super Confitebor tibi Domine *
6. Credo 8:51 *
7. Liberale Zanchi - Canzona II a 4 4:04 *
Philippe de Monte - Missa super Confitebor tibi Domine *
8. Sanctus 1:45 *
9. Benedictus 2:01 *
10. Philippe de Monte - Gia fu chi m'hebbe cara 8:32 *
Philippe de Monte - Missa super Confitebor tibi Domine *
11. Agnus Dei 4:56 *
12. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Veni dilecta mi 4:19
13. Jacobus Regnart - Litaniae Deiparae Mariae Virginis 8:19
* World Premiere Recording

 

 

Composer Info

Alessandro Orologio, Jacobus Regnart, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Liberale Zanchi, Philippe de Monte, Orlando di Lasso, Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665–1734), Nikolaj Gomolka.

CD Info

CD ACD 214-2, Coro CD 16130, CD AV-0001-2