RORATE COELI

Advent and Christmas in Baroque Prague

VÁCLAV KAREL HOLAN ROVENSKÝ (1644– 1718)

1 Maria, thou lofty field

2 Oh God, how did I deserve

ANTONÍN REICHENAUER (c. 1694– 1730)

3 Cantata ad Montem Sanctum “Quć est ista”

VÁCLAV KAREL HOLAN ROVENSKÝ

4 Mary, give your consent

5 Rorate coeli, when holy prophets

ANTONÍN REICHENAUER

Triosonata in D major

6 Adagio

7 Allegro

8 Adagio

9 Tempo di Menuet

JAN DISMAS ZELENKA (1679– 1745)

Alma Redemptoris Mater

10 Alma Redemptoris Mater – Adagio un poco

11 Succurre cadenti

12 Virgo prius – Larghetto piano sempre

13 Adeste fideles (Prague Loreto Carillon, arr. Radek Rejšek)

ANTONÍN REICHENAUER

14 Aria de Adventu “O coeli, rorate”

VÁCLAV KAREL HOLAN ROVENSKÝ

15 Oh my beloved

JOHANN FRIEDRICH FASCH (1688– 1758)

Sonata for Flute, Two Recorders & Basso continuo in G major

16 Andante

17 Allegro

18 Affettuoso

19 Allegro

ANTONIO CALDARA (c. 1671– 1736)

20 Aria “Quel pargoletto” (from Vaticini di pace)

VÁCLAV KAREL HOLAN ROVENSKÝ

21 To little Jesus

22 A darling child

Hana Blažíková – soprano

Kamila Ševčíková – alto

Tomáš Král, Marián Krejčík – baritone

Collegium Marianum (on period instruments)

Jana Semerádová - Artistic Director

In the rich musical life of early 18th century Prague, the Advent and Christmas seasons formed a chapter unto themselves. Their specific repertoire consisted not only of the themes of this liturgical season (including a strong element of the Marian cult), but also of special liturgical and musical forms. In both songs and figural music Czech suddenly appeared side by side with Latin, along with elements of folk religion and culture. These are most to be heard in the charming Advent and Christmas poeticism of the songs of Holan Rovenský.

Prague’s archives also hold whole troves of pieces with more sophisticated forms, both those by composers who worked in Prague (A. Reichenauer, J.F. Fasch) and those brought in from elsewhere (A. Caldara, Dresden-based J. D. Zelenka, and others). All the pieces on this new recording by the outstanding Collegium Marianum share the atmosphere of expectation of the Savior’s arrival and the spirit of peace and joy. And joy is precisely what shines through the thoughtful musicological and dramaturgical program of this “authentic” recording into the heart of the listener, whether during the seasons of Advent and Christmas or at any other time.

Supraphon SU40022