Bach Choir of Wgtn: Dvořák, Mass in D; Janačék, Otčenáš

The Bach Choir of Wellington is proud to present a splendid concert of works by two Czech composers.

The concert begins with ‘Otčenáš’ (Our Father) by Leoš Janačék. The piece was part of a commission for a fundraising event for a home for old women in Brno. Inspired by a set of religious paintings by Jósef Męcina-Krzesz depicting Russian peasants in acts of devotion, Otčenáš is a setting of the Lord’s Prayer. While not directly devotional or written for the church, Janačék saw it as faithful, and an expression of the life of a nation, a community; the product of a shared Slavic heritage. Janačék’s work has been described as a merging of his own meditative nature with his social and humanitarian feelings. Scored for tenor solo, choir, harp, and organ, the work features heroic melodies for the tenor soloist, stirring and impassioned choral responses, and an accompaniment that is a mystical combination of harp and organ.

Antonín Dvořák’s ‘Mše D dur’ (Mass in D) is among his most popular and widely known sacred works. Quintessentially Dvořák, this mass reflects his humility and true joy of life, employing rich melodic and harmonic imagery combined with exuberant spontaneity. Much like Otčenáš, it was written by request. Renowned Czech architect and arts patron, Josef Hlávka, asked Dvořák to compose a mass for the consecration of the newly constructed chapel near his summer residence in Lužany. The mass was first performed at the chapel’s consecration on 11 September 1887. In a decidedly intimate setting, Dvořák conducted while Hlávka’s wife, Zdenka, sang the soprano solos, and Dvořák’s wife, Anna, sang the alto solos. The first public performance was in Plseň, in April of 1888.