Glagolitic Mass (Janáček)

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The Glagolitic Mass ( Czech Glagolská mše , Church Slavonic Mša glagolskaja , Latin Missa Glagolitica ) is a late composition by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček . The work is written for four vocal soloists ( soprano , alto , tenor , bass ), double choir , organ and large orchestra. Janáček completed the work on October 15, 1926, when he was 72 years old. It premiered in Brno on December 5, 1927 , by a local ensemble directed by Jaroslav Kvapil .

Janáček set the mass text of the Glagolitic rite to music , that is, the ordinarium of the Catholic mass translated into Church Slavonic .

background

The five to my text add audio sets (in Latin Name): Kyrie , Gloria , Credo , Sanctus , Agnus Dei are framed by three instrumental movements: an orchestral prelude, and two Postludien: an organ solo and an orchestra piece.

Janáček had a lot of experience in choir work and had a. a. A lot of choral music written: this opus is his masterpiece in this field. The work begins and ends with the triumphant fanfare typical of the composer (see also his famous Sinfonietta ).

Janáček was a supporter of Pan-Slavism ; his Glagolitic Mass was therefore also seen as a revival of ancient Slavic culture in a modern guise.

The genesis of the “Glagolitic Mass” was complex: Janáček began sketching as early as 1920, but it wasn't until 1926 that he worked more intensively on the work. The score did not appear until 1929, after his death. There are major differences between the version for the world premiere (December 5, 1927) and the final printing copy. The later revision is now decisive for performances, it is instrumentally richer, easier to rehearse and shortened in some important passages. In the Critical Complete Edition, the final version and the “September 1927” version are published separately.

structure

The eight movements of the composition are:

  1. Úvod - Introduction - Orchestra
  2. Gospodi pomiluj - Kyrie - Lord have mercy - soprano, choir, orchestra
  3. Slava - Gloria - Glory to God on high - soprano, tenor, choir, organ, orchestra
  4. Vĕruju - Credo - Yes, I believe - tenor, bass, choir, organ, orchestra
  5. Svet - Sanctus - Holy is the Lord Sabaoth - soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, orchestra
  6. Agneče Božij - Agnus Dei - Lamb of God - soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, orchestra
  7. Varhany sólo [Postludium] - organ solo
  8. Intrada [Exodus] orchestra

Initial release

  • Vienna, Universal Edition, 1929. Plate number UE 9541/13366.
    • Translation into German: Rudolf Hoffmann (1878–1931)
    • Edition of the Slavic text: Miloš Weingart (1890–1939)

Discography and filming

The postlude is occasionally performed and recorded as an independent organ work.

Film music

The Glagolitic Mass was used as music for the 1954 film Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (director: Kenneth Anger ).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Dr. Theodora Strakova, editor of the composer's Complete Critical Work Edition , Supraphon, Prague, 1992
    Mša glagolskaja on leosjanacek.com ( Memento from March 30, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ see Bärenreiter-Verlag
  3. ↑ Recording date given as 1974 on a CD from 1997
  4. ↑ Glagolitic Mass (Musical CD, 1985) . WorldCat.org. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  5. ^ Glagolitic Mass, Taras Bulba (Musical CD, 1991) . WorldCat.org. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  6. ↑ Glagolitic mass, Taras Bulba (Musical CD, 1991) . WorldCat.org. Retrieved November 14, 2011.