Sehling J.A. (1710-1756) Christmas in Prague Cathedral / H.Blažíková soprano, M.Cukrová

Josef Antonín Sehling (1710-1756)

1. Rorate Primo 1:31

2. Aria per Adventu Domini "Donner und Hagel" 6:39

3. Rorate Secondo 1:23

Mottetto per la Nativita di Nostro Signore "Deponite metum" 7:04

4. I. Chorus "Deponite metum" 2:39

5. II. Recitativo "In Betlehem", Aria "Qui sidera movet" 2:33

6. III. Chorus "Alleluja" 1:51

7. Duetto "Vis ingens est favori" 6:24

8. Mottetto per la Nativita di Nostro Signore "Dormi nate, mi mellite" 7:41

Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741) Sonata pastorale a tre, KV 397 3:00

9. I. Adagio 0:54

10. II. Un poco allegro 2:05

Josef Antonín Sehling

11. Pastorella "Eja, laeti properemus" 5:04

12. Pastorella "Eja, surgite pastores" 6:36

13. Pastorella "Non sic cervus ad fluentem" 5:22

14. Aria per ogni festivita "Vos stellae preclarae" 5:45

15. Pastorella "Dormi, tenellule" 5:50

Josef Antonín Sehling - Offertorium de Sanctis Tribus Regis "Ecce magi veniunt" 7:27

16. I. "Ecce magi veniunt" 2:46

17. II. Recitativo "Venite adoremus", Arioso "Ego Casparus" 3:05

18. III. Chorus "Psallite Deo nostro" 1:33

Hana Blažíková - soprano, Markéta Cukrová - alto, Tomáš Král - baritone, Collegium Marianum, artistic director: Jana Semerádová

Recorded in Church of Virgin Mary under the Chain, Prague, July 25, 27 and 28, 2014

Precious few countries can boast of a Christmas repertoire as ample and colourful as that possessed by the Czech Republic. The Baroque era imbued the texts of songs with enchanting, tender poetics - with awestruck yet perplexed shepherds enthusing about the beautiful infant Jesus. Later on, a growing number of formally more complex pieces (pastorales) were written, most of them taking the form of arias or duets with instrumental accompaniment. A notable composer in this respect was Josef Antonín Sehling.

Although still anchored in the Baroque world, he paved the way for the accession of a new musical style. He studied in Vienna and subsequently worked in Prague as a member of Count Václav Morzin's renowned orchestra and as second violin at Saint Vitus Cathedral, although standing in as Kapellmeister over the long term (an interesting parallel can be drawn with Zelenka, the "counter-bassist" at the court orchestra in Dresden). Sehling was Kapellmeister of several Prague churches, including the Church of Our Lady under the Chain, where the present world premiere recording was made. The album features pieces intended for the period from Advent to Epiphany. Sehling's music contains the magic of Michna's songs yet concurrently opens upon a world familiar from Ryba's Christmas Mass...

Josef Antonín Sehling - Christmas music from the churches of Baroque Prague.

(Supraphon 2014)