Leos Janacek - Symfonietta, Taras Bulba

Leos Janacek: Symfonietta, Taras Bulba by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Karel Ancerl. The Sinfonietta (subtitled 'Military Sinfonietta' or 'Sokol Festival') is a very expressive and festive, late work for large orchestra (of which 25 brass players) by the Moravian/Czech composer Leoš Janacek. It is dedicated 'To the Czechoslovak Armed Forces' and Janacek said it was intended to express 'contemporary free man, his spiritual beauty and joy, his strength, courage and determination to fight for victory.' It started by Janáček listening to a brass band, becoming inspired to write some fanfares of his own. When the organisers of the Sokol Gymnastic Festival approached him for a commission, he developed the material into the Sinfonietta. He later dropped the word 'military'. The first performance was in Prague on 26 June 1926 under Vaclav Talich.

 
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Miloslav Kabelac - 8th Symphony (for organ, percussions, mixed choirs, and soprano), Metamorphoses II of Czech choral “Lord, have mercy of us”

Miloslav Kabelac (1908 – 1979). Czech composer and conductor, belongs to the foremost Czech modern symphonists. New ways of expression and his specific tone-creative principles presentated by Kabeláč above all in his later works. Perspectives opened by him to modern understanding and conception of traditional forms and genres have not yet penetrated our general conscience in a way corresponding to their importance and impact. His opuses content except 8 symphonies further orchestral compositions, organ a piano works, cantatas, choruses and electro-acoustic music (he was also president of Czech society for electro-acoustic music). In the totalitarian period Kabeláč´s work found itself on the periphery of official attention and was performed only sporadically and in a limited choice of compositions.

8th Symphony (for organ, percussions, two mixed choirs, and colloration soprano), Metamorphoses II (variations of old Czech choral “Lord, have mercy of us”).  Performers: Vaclav Neumann (conductor), Prague Percussion Ensemble, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Rabas (organ), Frantisek Maxián (piano), Jana Jonasova (soprano).

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Jan Dismas Zelenka - Gesu al Calvario

Jan Dismas Zelenka: Gesu al Calvario, oratorium ZWV 62.

Performed by Maria Christina Kiehr - sopran, Greta De Reyghere - sopran, Andrew Watts - alt, Pascal Bertin - alt, Steve Dugardin - alt, Ensemble Il Fondamento, Namur Kammerkor, conductor Paul Dombrecht.

Although Zelenka spent most of his life not in his native land but in Dresden, he was the most influential master of Czech Baroque music. He composed mainly church works; he wrote twenty masses, including a Requiem and a Magnificat, and a number of Lamentations.

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Antonin Dvorak - Stabat Mater (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, soloists,Wolfgang Sawalisch)

Antonin Dvorák - Stabat Mater, op.58 for soli, choir and orchestra. This recording is performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Wolfgang Sawalisch, with soloists Gabriela Benacková, Peter Dvorsky, Ortrun Wenkel and Jan-Hendrik Rootering.

I. Stabat Mater dolorosa. Andante con moto
II. Quis est homo, qui non fleret. Andante sostenuto
III. Eia, Mater, fons amoris. Andante con moto
IV. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum. Largo
V. Tui nati vulnerati. Andante con moto, quasi allegretto
VI. Fac me vere tecum flere. Andante con moto
VII. Virgo virginum praeclara. Largo
VIII. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem. Larghetto
IX. Inflammatus et accensus. Andante maestoso
X. Quando corpus morietur. Andante con moto



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Bohuslav Martinu - Symphonies Nos.1 - 4 (Neumann)

Bohuslav Martinu / Symphonies (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vaclav Neuman), 1976-78.

The First is romantically inclined - thick with images of seas thriving with swirling plankton, effervescently irrepressible, the stamp of the Rite of Spring, the chuckle of Petrushka, the third movement a funereal reflection rising to a great string anthem - the equipoise of the whole work. Joy is unleashed in the finale predictive of the life force of the Fourth Symphony.

The Second is innocently pastoral - naively flowing in the gracious and serene manner of Dvorák in the Serenade for Strings and the Eighth Symphony. There are impressionistic traces as well. These were picked up from his Parisian years and parallel his First Quartet The French.

The piano often plays a noticeable role in the orchestral works whether or not designated as a concerto. In the Third the role is prominent - especially noticeable in the massive-feeling first movement. In the final movement there are Tallis-like moments as well as the insect buzz of the Sixth Symphony. The optimistic woodwind calls are superbly recorded by Supraphon's analogue engineers who also capture the sweetest of high arching strings.

While the Fifth and Sixth are popularly singled out as the strongest of the sextet my vote goes to the Fourth as Martinu 's most lyrical, heart-easing and dynamic inspiration - truly a gripping symphony. In the second movement Neumann outpoints the famous Turnovsky for tensile snap and malevolence. The brilliance of the brass writing in the last movement must surely have been influenced by Janacek's Sinfonietta.

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Josef Suk - Asrael Symphony

Josef Suk: Asrael Symphony in C minor: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vaclav Neumann.

Czech composer and violinist Josef Suk (January 4, 1874 - May 29, 1935) Suk’s early works show the influence of Dvořák and Johannes Brahms, while later pieces use more extended harmonies to create a more personal and complex style. Unlike many of his countrymen, he made little use of Czech folk music. His best known works are probably the youthful Serenade for Strings (1892) and the symphony, Asrael (1906), a work written in response to the deaths of his wife and Dvořák. Other pieces include the Fairy Tale Suite (1900), the cycle of piano works Things Lived and Dreamed (1909), and the trilogy of symphonic poems A Summer’s Tale (1909), The Ripening (1917) and Epilog (1929, for chorus and orchestra). He won a silver medal at the Art Competititions during the Olympic Games of 1932 at Los Angeles with his work Into a New Life.

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Jan Dismas Zelenka - Magnificat

Jan Dismas Zelenka: Magnificat ZWV 108 in D major: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Larel Prusa, Jindrich Ptacek, Pavel Kühn, Lubomir Matl, Svatopluk Vohanka, Stanislav Bogunia, Jiri Kaniak, Jan Hora, Jana Jonasova), Joachim Vogt, Miroslav Kopp, Oldrich Vlcek


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