This double CD brings a special first: a large part of this funeral music by Zelenka has never been recorded before. The music is also remarkable, because the nightly tidal service for a deceased is rarely set to music completely. The nightly prayer of the Hours (also known as matins or vigil) consists of three nocturnes, preceded by an invitatorium and a hymn. In each nocturne six psalms are sung,
… followed by three readings (from the Bible and texts of the Church Fathers). Each reading is followed by a responsory, which reflects on the reading. Zelenka has set the first nocturne completely to music; of the second and third nocturne he only dealt with the responsories. Zelenka wrote the music on the occasion of the death of August II of Poland in early 1733. In addition to the music for Matins, he also had to write a Requiem Mass. The fact that this large amount of music was composed in just a few weeks is not something you can hear, quite the contrary. It is no coincidence that Zelenka was greatly praised by greats such as Bach and Telemann. They would no doubt be equally enthusiastic about these musicians, who perform Zelenka's fantastic music with verve and enthusiasm. Go hear that! (TC)more
