Jan Nepomuk Škroup (1811 – 1892) was a Czech
composer, conductor, and choirmaster. His brother
František Škroup was also a successful composer,
known today as the composer of the Czech national
anthem, "Kde domov můj?" ("Where is my home?").
His father, Dominik Škroup, and other brother, Ignác
Škroup, were also composers .Škroup held positions
(as Vice-Kapellmeister, then choirmaster, and then 2nd
Kapellmeister) in the Estates Theatre in Prague, from
1836 to 1843, and was also affi...(+)
Jan Nepomuk Škroup (1811 – 1892) was a Czech
composer, conductor, and choirmaster. His brother
František Škroup was also a successful composer,
known today as the composer of the Czech national
anthem, "Kde domov můj?" ("Where is my home?").
His father, Dominik Škroup, and other brother, Ignác
Škroup, were also composers .Škroup held positions
(as Vice-Kapellmeister, then choirmaster, and then 2nd
Kapellmeister) in the Estates Theatre in Prague, from
1836 to 1843, and was also affiliated with the theatre
from 1874 to 1882. He held various other choirmaster
positions, including one at the Prague Cathedral, from
1843.
The graduale: "Benedictus es, Domine" ("Blessed are
you, Lord"), derives from a rich treasury of chants
which set the tone and character of particular feasts
and seasons of the Church's year. These chants are
found in the Graduale Romanum, the collection of
“proper” chants. The style of Gregorian chant may
be unfamiliar to many people in our churches today.
This unfamiliarity, however, ought not to be an
obstacle to the singing of those texts, usually drawn
from scripture, and which are so fitting to the
celebration
The English lyrics read:
Blessed are you, Lord, who look into the depths throne
upon the cherubim.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven, and
praised for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers; and praised
for ever.
Although this work was originally written for Chorus
(SATB), I created this arrangement for Solo Acoustic
Piano.