Tiburtina ensemble, Barbora Kabátková - Jistebnický kancionál (2021)

Tracklist

01. Cantio Věřmež v Boha jednoho
02. Cantio Kristovoť jest ustavenie
03. Lamentacio Aleph. Poslúchajte slova smutná
04. Responsorium Zatmilo se jest
05. Cantio Radujme se všickni nynie
06. Tropus Hospodine, pro tvé svaté vzkřiešenie
07. Offertorium Brány nebeské otevřel Hospodin
08. Cantio Vstalť jest Kristus z mrtvých
09. Sequence Všemohúcí král mocí
10. Cantio Patřmež k Bohu tak múdrému
11. Introitus Nakrmil jest je z tučnosti
12. Alleluia Tělo mé pravý jest pokrm
13. Prosa Abychme hodně pamatovali
14. Offertorium Kněžie obět Boží. Tropus Budiž pozdraveno, tělo Kristovo
15. Communio Kolikrát kolivěk
16. Cantio Padnúc na svá kolena
17. Introitus Daj pokoj, Hospodine
18. Cantio Chvalmež Boha vždy dobrého
19. Tropus Děkujeme Hospodinu
20. Cantio Buoh všemohúcí
21. Cantio Jezu Kriste, štědrý Kněže


When, in 1872, the student Leopold Katz discovered in the attic of the presbytery in the South Bohemian village of Jistebnice an old manuscript of Czech songs, he might not have realised just how enormous its value was. Today, the hymnal, bearing the title "Jistebnický kancionál", is primarily known for containing the Hussite choral anthem Ye Who Are Warriors of God. (The melody has attained worldwide fame due to its inclusion in Smetana's symphonic poems Tábor and Blaník, parts of the cycle My Country.) Yet the most notable aspect of the hand-written hymnbook is that it features songs in Czech for mass and prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. It would seem that the bold project's aim was to make liturgy accessible to the wide religious community in their own language.

The creators evidently above all strove to translate Latin hymns into Czech, but they also wrote tunes of their own. Of a particularly high value is the record of the Easter liturgy that, owing to its detailed instructions, affords us a view of the Hussite form of worship. A number of unanswered questions and mysteries still surround the Jistebnice manuscript. The present album, made by the internationally esteemed vocal Tiburtina Ensemble, lifts the veil of mystery to a certain degree, with the bright female voices conveying the sheer beauty of the songs. "How wonderful my favourite Latin choral pieces sounded in Old Czech!" Barbora Kabátková says. "I consider the Jistebnice hymnal to be a great discovery, and hope that the listeners will perceive it in the same manner".

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]