The Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka was admired by Bach, who was sparing with praise for other composers, and in this Missa Divi Xaverii, ZWV 12, and its accompanying St. Xavier litany, you can hear why: although Zelenka comes from a slightly later stylistic layer, there is something Bachian about the combination of large ambitions and gravity in these movements. The ensemble for which the mass is scored -- four soloists, chorus, four trumpets, timpani, two flutes, two oboes, bassoon, strings, and a substantial continuo - ...
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The Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka was admired by Bach, who was sparing with praise for other composers, and in this Missa Divi Xaverii, ZWV 12, and its accompanying St. Xavier litany, you can hear why: although Zelenka comes from a slightly later stylistic layer, there is something Bachian about the combination of large ambitions and gravity in these movements. The ensemble for which the mass is scored -- four soloists, chorus, four trumpets, timpani, two flutes, two oboes, bassoon, strings, and a substantial continuo -- is rich by any Baroque standard, and the Czech Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 groups realize it superbly. It is not known why St. Xavier merited such a sumptuous treatment when this mass was composed in 1729. These groups delivered a magnificent recording of the Zelenka Missa Votiva, ZWV 18, in 2008, and for this recording they have moved to the Accent label from Zig Zag Territoires and benefited from support not only from the Czech culture ministry, but also from friends...
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