The extraordinary artistry of the biblical Lamentations, attributed in the Jewish tradition to the prophet Jeremiah, has been a continuous source of inspiration for composers since the Middle Ages. Among the musical interpretations of this book of the Old Testament, one that certainly stands out is the composition by Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745), a Czech composer and double bass player who served at the Dresden court of Augustus II the Strong.
It is the story of the fall of the Kingdom of Judah, which resulted in the fall of the dynasty of David, the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the demolition of the Holy City, and the Jewish people being taken captive by Babylonians. Full of pain and regret but not without hope, the stanzas are used in the Catholic liturgy of Holy Week. It is for these so-called Tenebrae that Lamentations by Jan Dismas Zelenka from 1722 were originally intended – their dramatic message is perfectly balanced with their contemplative character, and the music is in no way secondary to the text. Zelenka brilliantly uses sophisticated harmonic and polyphonic means and extracts the full meaning of the words with the help of expressive melodies and instrumentation adapted to the liturgical function of the text.
PROGRAM
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) – Lamentationes Jeremiae prophetae pro hebdomada sancta, ZWV 53
1. Lamentatio pro Die Mercurii Sancto (ZWV 53: 1)
2. Lamentatio pro Die Mercurii Sancto (ZWV 53: 2)
3. Lamentatio pro Die Jovis Sancto (ZWV 53: 4)
4. Lamentatio pro Die Veneris Sancto (ZWV 53: 6)
PERFORMERS
JAKUB FOLTAK COUNTERTENOR
SEBASTIAN SZUMSKI BARITONE
THE PERIOD INSTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA
KRZYSZTOF GARSTKA POSITIVE ORGAN, CONDUCTOR
