Hana BLAŽÍKOVÁ | soprano, harp

COLLEGIUM MARIANUM
Jana SEMERÁDOVÁ | flutes, artistic director
Lenka TORGERSEN | Baroque violin
Vojtěch SEMERÁD | Baroque violin and viola
Hana FLEKOVÁ | viola da gamba
Kateřina GHANNUDI | Baroque triple harp
Ján PRIEVOZNÍK | violone
Jan KREJČA | theorbo
Filip HRUBÝ | positive organ

If we were to travel four centuries back in time, when strolling through Prague streets we would most likely hear from many a house, palace or church some engrossing and catchy songs by Adam Václav Michna, one of the greatest Czech Baroque poets. His Christmas songs have become widely known and highly popular. Lesser known is Michna’s Czech Marian Music, drawing the listener into the world of poetic hymns praising the Virgin Mary, which formed a significant part of 17th-century Czech music.

The album juxtaposes Michna’s pieces with works by Alessandro Grandi, Vincenzo Albrici, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and Samuel Capricornus, all of them composers who were often in close contact with the Jesuits and drew inspiration from the spirituality practised by the Society of Jesus. Their lives and work were closely linked with the Kingdom of Bohemia, where their music was regularly played.

Recorded in Prague at the church of Sts Simon and Jude, 5–6 August 2020, and at the Klementinum Mirror Chapel, 6–7 March 2022.
Recording director: Markéta Janáčková, recording engineer: Jakub Hadraba
September 2022, SU 4317-2

 

This recording was made possible owing to the support provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
Special thanks to the National Library of the Czech Republic for their cooperation.