WorldView Episode 67: Jan Dismas Zelenka

Episode sixty-seven of WorldView features three composers from Eastern Europe: Henryk Górecki, Jan Dismas Zelenka, and Grazyna Bacewicz (WorldView episode 38). All three are towering figures in the music history of their home countries, helping develop and spread new forms of composition across the region. This post will focus on the life of Zelenka, a Baroque-era artist known for his innovative styles of composition. 

Jan Dismas Zelenka was born near Prague in 1679, in the modern day Czech Republic. Although few records exist of his early life, it is known that Zelenka studied the bass viol at a nearby Jesuit college and began composing at a young age. In 1710, he was asked to join the Dresden court orchestra as a double bass player; working with the ensemble strengthened his interest in the music of the Catholic Church, and he soon completed his first major Mass. Less than three years later, Zelenka was one of the highest paid musicians in the orchestra. 

In the 1720s and 1730s, Zelenka became a prominent figure in both Prague and Vienna. He completed some of his most famous works, including “Il Serpente di Bronzo” and “Sub Olea Pacis: Melodrama de Sancto Wenceslao.” During this period, Zelenka was involved in a controversy surrounding rightful leadership of the Dresden court orchestra. He was granted the title of “church composer” 1734, a post later held by fellow composer J. S. Bach. Zelenka died in September of 1745, leaving behind a considerable catalog of works. A large portion of his music was rediscovered by Czech composer Bedřich Smetana in the mid-1800s. In this episode, Zelenka’s “Sonata No. 1 in F Major”, completed in 1721, is performed on period instruments. Enjoy!

WorldView Episode Sixty-Seven Playlist:

Henryk GÓRECKI, “Male Requiem Dla Pewnej Polki (Little Requiem for a Certain Polka”, {Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Antoni Wit, Anna Gorecka (pf)} - Naxos

Jan Dismas ZELENKA, “Sonata No. 1 in F Major”, {Paul Dombrecht (ob), Chiara Banchini (vn), Danny Bond (bas), Richte van de Meer (cl), Robert Kohnen (hrpcd), Marcel Ponseele (ob)} - Accent

Grazyna BACEWICZ, “Sonata”, {Robert Szreder (vn)} - Radio Netherlands

WorldView is a classical music radio show featuring composers from everywhere in the world - except Western Europe. Tune in to hear works by lesser-known artists such as Jennifer Higdon and Sergio Assad, and widen your knowledge of classical music. Hinke Younger hosts each week’s episode of WorldView on Mondays at 4AM, 9AM and 6PM (with rebroadcasts Saturdays at 2PM and 7PM) on Charlottesvilleclassical.org.