BaL 6.11.21 - The music of Jan Dismas Zelenka

**Nick Armstrong** · 28-10-21, 19:27

Interesting one, this. I’ve yet to hear a Zelenka piece I didn’t like. But I’ve never followed it up, beyond being aware that Václav Luks and his Collegium 1704 have often been the performers. I’d expect them to get a good look-in during this survey.

**jayne lee wilson** · 28-10-21, 19:30

Just to make a start then......

(Seems worth copying this from summer 2013…

I have become fonder of the CPO Orchestral box since, it complements the more emotionally-charged DG Bern set well...(though the latter is the one you'll probably fall in love with...)
A lot of these may be on Qobuz now, so seek them out there.) BTW, most of the Nibiru releases received glowing reviews in the IRR).

*** 
I had a major crush on Zelenka in Summer 2013, and discovered the tiny specialist label NIBIRU, who have recorded most of his greatest sacred works with the performers ENSEMBLE INEGAL/PRAGUE BAROQUE SOLOISTS directed by ADAM VIKTORA, and a wonderful group of soloists. Among the highlights...

MISSA OMNIUM SANCTORUM ZWV 21
MISSA PURIFICATIONIS BEATAE VIRGINIS MARIAE ZWV 16
MISSA SANCTISSIMAE TRINITATIS ZWV168
MISSA SANCTI JOSEPHI ZWV 14
and the oratorio IL SERPENTE DI BRONZO.
Part of the pleasure with Nibiru is the lovely CD presentation and very lively and informative notes.

COLLEGIUM 1704 \VACLAV LUKS have made fine recordings too:
on ACCENT - OFFICIUM DEFUNCTORUM/REQUIEM
on ZIGZAG - MISSA VOTIVA ZWV 18 and the oratorio I PENITENTI AL SEPOLCRO ZWV 63

One of his greatest masses, the MISSA DEI PATRIS, can be found on CARUS with BAROCKORCHESTER STUTTGART etc/FRIEDER BERNIUS, with another fine MISSA VOTIVA too (the Luks one is the wilder of the two, the Bernius one more polished.)

All of these have given me huge pleasure - the crush became a true love...

There's a lovely, truly classic DG Collectors' Edition of the ORCHESTRAL WORKS and TRIO SONATAS with CAMERATA BERN/ALEX VAN WIIJNKOOP and soloists including Barry Tuckwell and Heinz Holliger, whose first recordings of the Trio Sonatas are included. I just prefer this to the Period Instrument DAS-NEU-ERÖFFNETE ORCHESTRECPO set of the Capriccios (though the latter do well enough & have the lovely, delicate vintage-instrumental textures), as the Camerata aren't a large group and play with more warmth and a greater sense of responding to each other across the stage...

PAUL DOMBRECHT'S ensemble have a classic period-instrument recording of the TRIO SONATAS on ACCENT.

Overall I feel the most inspired of his works are the Masses and the Trio Sonatas, but just plunge in anywhere really... if you can download, one of the liveliest instrumental works is the intriguingly named HIPOCHONDRiE A 7 CONCERTANTI in A major. (Presto Classical offer all the DG set separately as separate lossless files).

***
As a comparison, I lined up on Qobuz - Zefiro, the 1704s and the Ensemble Berlin Prag, playing a movement from each as I toured around the 6 Trio Sonatas. And whilst I did indeed admire and often preferred the colour and character of the older historic instruments (or their replicas), I was drawn back to the sheer freshness and vivacity of the Berlin Prag accounts; especially their lighter, more agile baselines and expressively varied rhythmic articulation, which could make the 1704s seems a shade plodding and predictable in direct comparison. Whilst finding Zefiro a little too laidback initially, I soon came to revel in their tonal beauties above all. (Equally true of their Telemann “a 8” album which I bought some years ago)…
Zefiro and C-1704 seemed quite close to each other interpretatively (although I quickly formed a preference for Zefiro’s stronger, fuller sonority and firmer bass-lines - do seek them out if you haven’t already) throwing the newcomer into sharply contrasted relief.
Broadly, the HIPPS-readings score on warmth, colour and smoother melodic lines (especially lovely in slower sections); the Berlin Prag one for a livelier, sharper, more individualised approach, and babblingly lively dialoguing in movements like 6(ii). What with the Holligers et al, and Dombrecht/Ponseele, we’re spoilt for choice really….

Still, these are three lovely recordings, to delve into, dwell upon and enjoy for their differences of approach; but those Berliner musicians certainly offer the most strikingly distinctive readings, in sonority, acoustic spaciousness and endlessly inventive shaping and pacing of the musical flow.
They say how excited they felt in their discovery of the music and in recording it together; this comes across very vividly to this listener at least…

**richardfinegold** · 28-10-21, 20:31

Originally posted by Nick Armstrong View Post

Interesting one, this. I’ve yet to hear a Zelenka piece I didn’t like. But I’ve never followed it up, beyond being aware that Václav Luks and his Collegium 1704 have often been the performers. I’d expect them to get a good look-in during this survey.

We have had some Zelenka discussions here before, an I am sure that jlw will add an Encylopedic discography. THe more I explore JDZ the more one realizes that the purely instrumental works, which are breathtaking, are a bit of an outlier. Most of his surviving music is for liturgical purposes (come to think of it, that is also the case for J.S. Bach) and while I have enjoyed the ones that I have sampled, there is, in general, a lot less virtuosity on display than in the instrumental works. Perhaps having a singer execute the same kind of runs he makes an Oboist do was not very practical or considered desirable in an ecclesiastical setting

**MickyD** · 29-10-21, 11:56

And let's not forget the vintage Harnoncourt recording of Hippocondrie, still available at budget price on Teldec and still sounding great

**jayne lee wilson** · 31-10-21, 15:01

Just listening to these again....

Album unavailable

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/sonates-pour-deux-hautbois-et-basson-jan-dismas-zelenka/4015023300484

This album is unavailable. Find all %artist%’s albums on Qobuz

Pioneering from 1982 off a CD (later issues available), still lovely, even if I'd recommend Zefiro or the Berlin Prag now. The main thing is simply to get to know this wonderful music!

**richardfinegold** · 01-11-21, 10:34

Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post

Just listening to these again....

Album unavailable

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/sonates-pour-deux-hautbois-et-basson-jan-dismas-zelenka/4015023300484

This album is unavailable. Find all %artist%’s albums on Qobuz

Pioneering from 1982 off a CD (later issues available), still lovely, even if I'd recommend Zefiro or the Berlin Prag now. The main thing is simply to get to know this wonderful music!

I have the Zefiro recording, one of my desert Island discs. The Orchestral Music series on cpo is another great entry point. The performances seem pretty good but regrettably there is much comparison. I always wished that an ensemble such as Jordi Savall or the AAM had recorded this music

**gurnemanz** · 01-11-21, 12:22

This thread has taken me back to the German Harmonia 50th anniversary box from a few years ago (40 quid for 50 discs at the time). I've just particularly enjoyed his energetic Simphonie a 8 Concertanti in A minor from Gottfried von der Goltz and Freiburger Barockorchester, including contrasting dance movements, some nicely spiky, others gently graceful.

**Darloboy** · 02-11-21, 01:15

Not a composer I'm very familiar with - I think I only have one of his works. A couple of Zelenka recordings held Penguin Guide rosettes for donkeys' years but I never got round to investigating them (possibly because of his unfortunate alphabetic positioning) - so this will be a must-listen for me. The general view was that Hannah French did a good job of the Strozzi survey a few years back. Hopefully she'll manage to cover a lot of ground in this programme.

**jayne lee wilson** · 02-11-21, 03:43

Originally posted by richardfinegold View Post

I have the Zefiro recording, one of my desert Island discs. The Orchestral Music series on cpo is another great entry point. The performances seem pretty good but regrettably there is much comparison. I always wished that an ensemble such as Jordi Savall or the AAM had recorded this music

The only other complete orchestral set is the classic DG Archiv Collectors' Box, do you know it?
Modern instruments but a small group, and played with such love and affection, everyone really listening to and dialoguing with each other. Starry line-up with Holliger, Bourgue, Tuckwell et al with the Camerata Bern...includes the Trio Sonatas as well (which Holliger & Bourgue later remade for ECM).

Essential Zelenkan Listening!

Jan Dismas Zelenka: The Orchestral Works, Alexander van Wijnkoop - Qobuz

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/jan-dismas-zelenka-the-orchestral-works-alexander-van-wijnkoop/0002894698422

Listen to unlimited or download Jan Dismas Zelenka: The Orchestral Works by Alexander van Wijnkoop in Hi-Res quality on Qobuz. Subscription from £10.83/month.

**BBMmk2** · 02-11-21, 09:45

I have the Zelenka set on DG Archiv. I’ll follow this with interest, as I rather like his music, too.

**richardfinegold** · 02-11-21, 10:05

Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post

The only other complete orchestral set is the classic DG Archiv Collectors' Box, do you know it?
Modern instruments but a small group, and played with such love and affection, everyone really listening to and dialoguing with each other. Starry line-up with Holliger, Bourgue, Tuckwell et al with the Camerata Bern...includes the Trio Sonatas as well (which Holliger & Bourgue later remade for ECM).

Essential Zelenkan Listening!
https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/ja.../0002894698422

I had it on lp back in the day. The cpo set was issued here at a time when the Archiv set wasn’t available digitally and I am not sure that I ever got around to acquiring it

**MickyD** · 02-11-21, 14:21

I must have missed this - Zelenka from English forces, with Carolyn Sampson. Has anyone heard it?

**ardcarp** · 02-11-21, 16:01

I have a conductor friend who had a major pash on Zelenka a few years ago. Every time he phoned to ask me to sing in one of his concerts, I cut in, "Zelenka by any chance?". My point is that Z wrote a lot, and I wonder how a 45 minute BAL is going to do him justice? Has he been a CotW candidate?

**jayne lee wilson** · 02-11-21, 17:05

Originally posted by ardcarp View Post

I have a conductor friend who had a major pash on Zelenka a few years ago. Every time he phoned to ask me to sing in one of his concerts, I cut in, "Zelenka by any chance?". My point is that Z wrote a lot, and I wonder how a 45 minute BAL is going to do him justice? Has he been a CotW candidate?

Any radio program or webcast can only serve to introduce, go a little further, inspire your listener's appetite...lets hope the BaL does that at least.
So, see my comments above in #3, and have a look at this (updated 2018) for more.....

Discover Zelenka: Music and Life of the Baroque Composer Jan Dismas Zelenka

https://www.jdzelenka.net

Jan Dismas Zelenka was a giant of the Baroque, admired by Bach and others for his originality, harmonic flair and sophisticated musical language of great depth and beauty.

Very good search and discography on there, just take your time to look around...

BaL 6.11.21 - The music of Jan Dismas Zelenka

BaL 6.11.21 - The music of Jan Dismas Zelenka

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