In this program, music for Lent and especially the Holy Week is played. All works were composed by Johann Michael Haydn, whose music is rarely performed.
Johann Michael Haydn is completely overshadowed by his older brother Joseph, but in his time, he was a respected composer. In this program, we will hear two of the three cycles of Responsoria for the three last days of the Holy Week, known as ‘Triduum Sacrum’. These Responsoria were first performed in 1778. They have been handed down in three versions, for a cappella choir, for choir with organ accompaniment, and in the version that can be heard in this program, for choir with organ and double bass. Due to their length, only the cycles for Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday can be programmed. Between the two cycles, a gradual for Palm Sunday and the ‘Missa Sanctae Crucis’ will be played.
Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806)
1. From ‘Responsoria pro Hebdomada Sancta’: ‘Responsoria in Coena Domini’ (MH 276)
Purcell Choir, members of the Orfeo Orchestra conducted by György Vashegyi
(cd: “Responsories for the Holy Week” – Hungaroton HCD 32596, 2008)
2. Gradual for Palm Sunday: ‘Tenuisti manum dexteram meam’ (MH 695)
3. ‘Missa Sanctae Crucis’ (MH 56)
Purcell Choir, members of the Orfeo Orchestra conducted by György Vashegyi
(cd: “Sacred Music for the Season of Lent” – Hungaroton HCD 32567, 2008)
4. From ‘Responsoria pro Hebdomada Sancta’: ‘Responsoria in Sabbato Sancto’ (MH 278)
Purcell Choir, members of the Orfeo Orchestra conducted by György Vashegyi
(cd: see 1)
addition:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
5. Fugue in G minor (KV 154) (completed by Simon Sechter, 1788-1867)
Gerhard Weinberger, organ
(cd: “Organ Works” – Motette CD 10811, 1985)
