Slovak Sacred Music of the 20th Century

Slovak Sacred Music of the 20th Century

CD

1. Viliam Figuš-Bystrý (1875-1937) - Ave Maria, Op. 94a (1933) 2:44

Viliam Figuš-Bystrý - Six Offertories, Op. 88 (1932)

2. Confitebor tibi, Domine, Op. 88, No. 3 2:12

3. Improperium expectavit, Op. 88, No. 5 3:02

4. Adoro te devote, Op. 88, No. 6 2:10

Mikuláš Moyzes (1872-1944) - Missa brevis for Monophonic Voice and Organ

5. Kyrie 1:26

6. Gloria 1:49

7. Credo 1:05

8. Sanctus 1:42

9. Agnus 1:11

10. Ján Egry (1824-1908) - Salve Regina 2:52

11. Viliam Figuš-Bystrý - Hail to You, Virgin Mary!, Op. 7 (1902) 2:55

12. Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský (1881-1958) - Ave Maria in B-flat major (1910) 2:34

Štefan Németh-Šamorínsky (1896-1975) - Missa brevis in A major No. 2, Op. 19 (1933)

13. Kyrie 1:09

14. Gloria 1:23

15. Credo 2:37

16. Sanctus 1:07

17. Benedictus 1:10

18. Agnus 0:53

19. Dona nobis 1:01

20. Štefan Németh-Šamorínsky - Ave Maria No. 3, Op. 32 (1947) 3:05

Eugen Suchoň (1908-1993) - Three Prayers, ESD 111 (1987)

21. Our Father 1:23

22. Hail, Mary 0:47

23. I Believe 1:49

Eugen Suchoň - Slovak Monophonic Mass, ESD 105 (1977-1978)

24. Kyrie 0:29

25. Gloria 1:53

26. Credo 3:30

27. Sanctus and Benedictus 0:42

28. Agnus Dei 0:56

29. Jozef Malovec (1933-1998) - Ave Maria (1989) 3:02

30. Ladislav Stanček (1898-1979) - Ave Maria, Op. 17a (1932) 2:40

Total Time: 55:30

Eva Šušková - mezzo-soprano (1, 3, 7-10, 12, 20, 29, 30), vocals (5, 6, 24, 25, 27, 28)

Tomáš Šelc - bass-baritone (2, 4-6, 8, 9, 13-19, 21-28, 30)

Katarína Šárközi - soprano (12, 30), vocals (5-9, 24, 25, 27, 28)

Júlia Urdová - vocals (5-9, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30), viola (10)

Juraj Tomka - violin (1, 11, 30)

Sylvia Urdová - organ (1-20, 29, 30), vocals (24, 25, 27, 28)

The CD presents a survey of Slovak Catholic sacred music from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Church music played a key role in Slovak cultural life and often provided continuity during periods of political and social upheaval. After the communist takeover, sacred music was suppressed and largely removed from official music history.

The programme traces this tradition through works by major Slovak composers. Ján Egry represents the 19th-century foundations of Slovak Catholic music. Mikuláš Moyzes contributed important Mass settings and helped establish a distinguished organ school. Viliam Figuš-Bystrý composed several liturgical works, including offertories and Marian prayers. Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský became the leading figure of modern Slovak Catholic music, while Štefan Németh-Šamorínsky enriched the repertoire with Masses and multiple settings of Ave Maria.

The later 20th century is represented by Eugen Suchoň, whose Slovak Monophonic Mass reflected the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, and Jozef Malovec, who combined traditional sacred texts with contemporary compositional techniques. Ladislav Stanček continued composing liturgical music despite the unfavourable conditions of the communist era.

Several works on this recording were slightly adapted for performance and recording purposes. The project was prepared and recorded with the support of the Music Centre Slovakia, helping to revive and present an important part of Slovakia’s sacred musical heritage.