The Litanies of St. Francis Xavier
A generous 2-CD set of Jan Dismas Zelenka’s liturgical music from the Schola Cantorum of Melbourne: the Litaniae Xaverianae, five Vespers psalms, the Magnificat in D and the Alma Redemptoris Mater.
Gary Ekkel conductor
John O'Donnell organ
Schola Cantorum Baroque Players ensemble
Of Zelenka’s liturgical works, one nineteenth-century commentator wrote: “Everything is combined here to make the master equal to the greatest contemporaries and to seriously challenge us to his revival.”
This recording presents First Vespers and Litanies for the Feast of St Francis Xavier as they might have been heard at the Dresden Catholic court church around 1730. The Schola Cantorum and the Schola Cantorum Baroque Players perform the Litaniae Xaverianae, five psalms, the Magnificat in D and the Alma Redemptoris Mater, framed by Gregorian antiphons, the hymn Iste Confessor, and organ preludes improvised in Zelenka’s style.
A substantial programme for listeners drawn to Baroque sacred music.
Reviews
Overall, these Australian artists carry off this ambitious project well. The choir is disciplined ... all the soloists have attractive voices and sing in historically informed style ... the period instrument orchestra is quite polished. ★★★
Jan Dismas Zelenka is an extraordinary composer, extremely passionate, and well worth listening to - as witness this Australian recording on the Move label ... We're in the company here of some wonderful Australian singers and ... Baroque performers as well ... I think you'll be having a nice time listening to this ...
This very praiseworthy Australian recording, beautifully recorded and packaged, is deserving of the attention of all lovers of fine baroque church music.
Historical instruments give added depth ... inspiration for modern day singers.
this performance makes a good impact: the soloists are fine and the organ does not dominate though it is used to give strength at the beginning
Artists
Jan Dismas Zelenka
Jan Dismas Zelenka wrote Baroque sacred music of striking harmonic inventiveness and contrapuntal mastery: masses, litanies, psalms and Marian antiphons whose passion still startles in performance.
Gary Ekkel
Gary Ekkel is a leading Australian interpreter of choral and Early Music.
Schola Cantorum of Melbourne
Schola Cantorum of Melbourne has established a reputation for presenting sacred music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque together with Gregorian chant in historical and innovative contexts.
Audio previews
Tracks
- Organ prelude in the style of Zelenka 2:28
- Deus in adjutorium Chant :51
- Antiphon: Domine quinque talenta (i) Psalm 100 :32
- Dixit Dominus 2:11
- Virgam virtutis 7:24
- Judicabit 1:20
- De torrente 2:58
- Sicut erat 2:14
- Antiphon: Domine quinque talenta (ii) Psalm 100 :37
- Antiphon: Euge serve bone (i) Psalm 111 :21
- Confitebor, ZWV73 Jan Dismas Zelenka 5:10
- Antiphon: Euge serve bone (ii) Psalm 111 :28
- Antiphon: Fidelis servus et prudens Psalm 112 :22
- Beatus vir 6:02
- Peccator 1:39
- Gloria Patri 1:06
- Amen 1:54
- Organ fugue in the style of Zelenka 2:02
- Antiphon: Beatus ille servus (i) Psalm 113 :34
- Laudate pueri, ZWV82 Jan Dismas Zelenka 6:43
- Antiphon: Beatus ille servus (ii) Psalm 113 :39
- Antiphon: Serve bone et fidelis (i) Psalm 117 :16
- Laudate Dominum, ZWV87 Jan Dismas Zelenka 3:49
- Antiphon: Serve bone et fidelis (ii) Psalm 117 :22
- Chapter Beatus vir Chant :36
- Hymn Iste Confessor Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 3:52
- Versicle Amavit eum Chant :24
- Antiphon: Hic vir, despiciens mundum (i) :30
- Magnificat 4:37
- Suscepit Israel 3:30
- Amen 2:43
- Antiphon: Hic vir, despiciens mundum (ii) :36
- Collect Deus qui Indiarum Chant 1:03
- Benedicamus Domino :35
- Fidelium animae :36
- Kyrie eleison 4:22
- Sancte Francisce 3:11
- Firmamentum Orientis Ecclesiae 1:25
- Fidelis imitator 2:52
- Salus aegrotantum :38
- Fugator daemonum 2:40
- Gloria Societatis Jesu :38
- Pauperrime Xaveri 2:51
- Sancte Francisce Xaveri 5:02
- In quo uno omnium Sanctorum 1:54
- Agnus Dei (i) 2:15
- Agnus Dei (ii) 2:15
- Christe audi nos: Kyrie :37
- Alma redemptoris Mater, ZWV124 Jan Dismas Zelenka 1:57
- Marian prayer Angelus Domini Chant :12
- Divinum auxilium Chant :16
Dixit Dominus, ZWV66 Jan Dismas Zelenka
Beatus vir, ZWV75 Jan Dismas Zelenka
Magnificat in D, ZWV108 Jan Dismas Zelenka
Litaniae Xaverianae, ZWV155 Jan Dismas Zelenka
Performers
- Schola Cantorum of Melbourne · tracks 2–17, 19–51
- Gary Ekkel
- John O'Donnell · tracks 1 and 18
- Schola Cantorum Baroque Players · tracks 4–8, 11, 14–17, 20, 23, 29–31, 36–47 and 49
Composer
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Palestrina's sacred polyphony balances proportion and serenity with crystalline text. His masses and motets move in smooth, carefully controlled lines where dissonance yields to consonance and every voice serves the liturgy.
Where to listen
The Litanies of St. Francis Xavier is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
The Litanies of St. Francis Xavier is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MCD 156
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 104 minutes 9 seconds
- Release date
- 2000
- Musical work
copyright - © 2000 Schola Cantorum of Melbourne
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2000 Move Records
- Categories
- Choral, Early music
- Genres
- Choral & Sacred, Baroque
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574015621
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