Concert Programs

The beginnings of Gregorian chant are dated back as early as to the first centuries after Christ. In its history it has undergone many interesting development stages and simultaneously it has become a platform for the early polyphony. The program presents a representative cross-section of the most attractive musical material from plain psalm recitation up to richly decorated compositions and polyphonic compositions. At the promoters’ request the concert may be supplemented by an explanatory commentary.

The Schola Gregoriana Pragensis first attempts to present the world of monastic liturgy with its structure and richness in repertoire dates back to the year 1989. Regular all-day rhythm of hours – psalm singing complemented with hymns, responsories and readings - creates harmonic counterbalance to daily work. The specialization can be inspired either by the liturgical period (e.g. Easter), ecclesiastical feast (Saint Wenceslas, Saint Remigius, Virgin Mary…) or by local spiritual tradition. Daily hours are thus a sort of guideline to our pilgrimage through the day.

Liturgical singing of four Advent Sundays.

Reconstruction of a part of Easter liturgy according to original sources conveys the atmosphere of Prague under the reign of Emperor Charles IV. Besides other music, the listeners will hear vocally demanding and very impressive polyphonic readings some of which were discovered only a few years ago (compare: CD In Pragensi Ecclesia).

The Schola Gregoriana Pragensis and the outstanding Czech cellist Jiri Barta. A dialogue of ancient and contemporary music or on the naturalness of interconnection of Gregorian chant and early polyphony with the solo cello repertoire and improvisations.

The program is based on 55-part series of the same name broadcast between 1995-1996 and 1999-2000 by the Czech Radio 3 – Vltava, which met with favourable reviews of the audience. It offers an insight into the musical diversity and richness of Gregorian Chant singing throughout individual liturgical periods (compare: CD "Liturgical Year").

Choral Passion thematically complemented with Gregorian responsories and antiphons, which introduces and intensifies the musical experience of memorable last moments of Jesus Christ. J.S. Bach approaches this Biblical history in a similar way.

Codex Franus is a noted work of Bohemian musical tradition. Its importance is not determined only by its dimensions (66 x 43 cm, 367 folios, weight of several dozens kilos) but mainly by its contents. A well-off dresser and a burgher of Hradec Kralové Jan Franus had it made at his own expense on the 8th of November 1505. The program represents a selection of the very best of this collection and attests its extraordinary variety of the then sacred music. In the concert Gregorian chant will also be performed, homophonic and polyphonic sacred songs and more-texts music.

Guillaume de Machaut is a foremost representative of polyphonic style called Ars nova. Within the context of Czech history it is quite interesting to know that he shortly served as a secretary at King John of Luxembourg court. The most known work of Machaut’s appears to be a famous polyphonic Messe de Nostre Dame. Its mysticism will transfer the listeners to the nave of the Reims Cathedral for which his Marian mass was composed. The program is a reconstruction of a holly service including original Gregorian chant according to French sources.