SKU: BR.ED-10296

ISBN 9790220101977. 7.5 x 11 inches.

The Ode was admirably set by Mr. Henry Purcell, and performed twice with universal applause.
(The Gentlemen's Journal, 1692)

The popularity of Purcell's setting is apparent from the many sources that survive and from the printed extracts which appeared almost immediately after its first performance. The primary source for this edition is the largely autograph manuscript in the Bodleian Library. Rather to reduce the orthography to a norm, the capitalization of the vocal text favours Purcell's preferences.
(Christopher Hogwood) Vokalensemble Stuttgart und den Kammerchor des Kopernikus-Gymnasiums Wasseralfingen. Fur diese beiden ganz unterschiedlichen Chorformationen hat Martin Smolka 2012 auch gezielt seine Partitur angelegt. Biografisch ist das Agnus Dei eine Art kleines Requiem fur seinen kurz zuvor verstorbenen Vater. Das liturgische Agnus Dei rahmt den deutschen Text Eh das Madchen entschlief ... der bei Auffuhrungen in anderen Landern durch eine Ubersetzung ersetzt werden soll.

Der SWR-Redakteur Hans-Peter Jahn schreibt dazu im Programmheft: Die fur Smolka typischen minimalistischen Taktzellen schaffen eine archaische Sinnlichkeit. Eine einfache und zugleich streng gebaute Vokalmusik mit Tiefenwirkung.

Nach der Urauffuhrung war die Esslinger Zeitung hellauf begeistert: Smolka ist ein Meister der Stimmbehandlung und der chorischen Klanggestaltung. Im Zentrum des Stucks gerat die Musik zum Stillstand: im leisen gleichmassigen Summen uber dem plotzlich fortissimo ein tschechisches Kinderlied erklingt eines das der Vater seinen Kindern haufig vorgesungen hat. Das alles war sehr beruhrend. Und eigentlich noch mehr als das. My father PhDr. Jaroslav Smolka (1933-2011) was a leading Czech musicologist author of books Czech Cantata and Oratorium Fuga in Czech Music Smetana's Orchestra Music Smetana's Vocal Music monography of Jan Dismas Zelenka and many others. He was a legendary teacher of Music History at Prague Music Academy critic recording producer composer; for almost 50 years he was an important and highly respected personality of Prague musical life.
My father devoted a lot of time and energy to musical education and activities of my sister and me using often quite original methods such as teaching of intervals and counterpoint through Bartok's Microcosmos ear training filling all imaginable moments of everyday life or lessons of harmony analysis starting with Overture to Tristan and Musorgsky's Catacombs. The Martinu song Wondering Maiden was his solo number in our home vocal productions which he used to sing with amazing devotion while his huge voice was audible in several neighboring streets.
My Agnus Dei is closely bound to all this history e.g. by using canon and preferring beauty of dissonant seconds like Bartok or quoting Martinu and his refined neoclassical harmony. Father would be probably a bit critical about the minimalistic monotony of the main body of the piece. Nevertheless firstly he would improvise a short lecture of history of Agnus Dei in Requiem in Czech Music naming by heart many dates and all examples of changes of order of the traditional text by composers. Examples would be sung probably.
(Martin Smolka).

SKU: HL.48180032

UPC: 888680830076. 7.25x10.75 inches.

French composer, Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was a prominent in his day, best remembered for his “Ave Maria” and his opera, Faust. 1854 saw the premiere of his Solemn Mass, also known as the St. Cecilia Mass. This work fully established Gounod as a noteworthy composer. Despite being a minor composer to us today, Gounod was famed in his day, so much so that at his funeral, Camille Saint-Saëns played the organ and Gabriel Fauré conducted. Gounod's Solemn Mass proves the composer's extraordinary talent and caught the attention of much of Paris when it was first performed. Famous recordings include that of the Chorus of Radio France with the New Philharmonia Orchestra. For all aspiring choirs, Gounod's St. Cecilia Mass is an imperative, sublime addition to the repertoire.

SKU: BR.CHB-5224-02

ISBN 9790004411452. 9 x 12 inches.

Johann Evangelist Habert took an active part in the founding of the Austrian St. Cecilia Society (1871). In his compositional style, he followed the principles of the movement, which was important in Germany and Austria and oriented itself on the a cappella polyphony of the 16th century. A large part of his oeuvre - 30 Masses, 3 Requiems, Litanies and Propers - was published during Habert's lifetime by Breitkopf & Hartel. The music text of this edition scrupulously follows that of the first edition.

SKU: CA.411000

ISBN 9790007181635.

Charles Gounod, the 200th anniversary of whose birth falls in 2018, is known above all for his operas - Faust, Sapho, Romeo et Juliette, etc. But throughout his life Gounod was also a very religious man. As winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1839, he spent an extended period in the Holy City and subsequently devoted several years exclusively to writing sacred music. For a time he even thought of becoming a priest and signed his letters Abbe Ch. Gounod. As well as several masses - including the famous St Cecilia Mass - he composed numerous smaller works for various scorings for use in the liturgy and other church services. This collection contains 20 smaller sacred motets for 4-6-part mixed choir with organ or piano accompaniment, mostly ad libitum.

SKU: HL.14002305

ISBN 9780853605034.

Audi Filia was written for the celebrations for St Cecilia's Day in Rome in October 1720. It was originally part of a much larger mass setting for the event, which is considered to be one of the finest pieces of music to survive from the Baroque era. This movement, intended for the gradual, is one of the more popular sections and is often performed as a stand-alone piece. It is scored for 2 Oboes, Strings, Organ, and Soprano solo.

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) was an Italian composer in the Baroque style, who mostly wrote for choral groups. He is best remembered for his operas and oratorios, but he also wrote several hundred chambercantatas for solo Voice.

SKU: CA.2709205

ISBN 9790007248703. Key: D minor. Latin.

Anton Bruckner composed his first mass, the Mass in D minor, in 1864 in just four months. It was not ready in time for the Kaiser Franz Joseph I's birthday, as planned, but was first performed on 20 November at the Feast of St Cecilia in Linz Cathedral - with great success. The mass is one of the first works by Bruckner to be written in his characteristic symphonic style. It was revised several times and first published in 1892. This edition is based on a critical evaluation of all the relevant sources, and offers an improved musical text.

SKU: CA.9100400

ISBN 9790007120573.

This selection enables unjustly neglected church choral music of the Cecilian Movement to be restored to use. The texts, all in Latin, reflect the Cecilian epoch from its beginnings in the early 19th century to the 20th century, and the generally easily performable nature of the music recommends it for use during church services. This choir book, representing the most important composers of the Cecilian Movement, provides a very valuable survey of the Cecilian repertoire.