The Novena to Saint Teresa of Jesus and the Work of Prague Composers around 1720

0533969 - ÚDU 2021 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Kapsa, Václav
The Novena to Saint Teresa of Jesus and the Work of Prague Composers around 1720.
Hudební věda. Roč. 57, č. 3 (2020), s. 254-290. ISSN 0018-7003
Institutional support: RVO:68378033
Keywords : 18th century sacred music * Baroque music * antiphons * litanies * figural music * Discalced Carmelites * Joseph Brentner * Antonín Reichenauer * Johann Adam Scheibl * Prague * St Teresa of Ávila
OECD category: Performing arts studies (Musicology, Theater science, Dramaturgy)
Method of publishing: Limited access

This study concerns music composed for the Novena to Saint Teresa of Ávila, a nine-day public devotion, first performed by the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Graz in 1718 and thereafter introduced to other Discalced Carmelite monasteries. The Prague composer Joseph Brentner (1689–1742) composed nine litanies and antiphons to St Teresa for this festivity, and music for the Novena was also composed by Antonín Reichenauer (ca 1696–1730) and Johann Adam Scheibl (1710–1773). Brentner’s and Reichenauer’s antiphons, which were written over the course of several years, have opened up the possibility of considering the existence of a certain local creative dialogue, ongoing stylistic changes or differences in the abilities of the two composers. Compared with Brentner, Reichenauer had a greater command of the instrumental ritornello and a more innovative approach to rhythmic structure. Both composers sought a wider application of their works, which were disseminated additionally as offertories or with more universal texts. Although Brentner comes off the worse when comparing compositional abilities, his compositions have become much more widespread.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0312199