"(...) At the time of Baroque, more present than today was the accent on Kenosis and Christ's mother, stemming from the ancient Roman tradition (at the time the entire Advent has a markedly Marian nature). In the Czech lands there was the tradition of Advent matin songs accompanying morning votive masses in honour of the Virgin Mary, and often sung in the national language. The introductory verse of the Introit of this mass reads "rorate coeli desuper" - "drop down dew, ye heavens from above". That is also the title of this recording in whose first part compositions focused on the Virgin Mary prevail. The perceptive listener will certainly not fail to hear the arrival of Christmas in the programme.(...)"
[Václav Kapsa in the booklet]
works by:
Václav Karel Holan Rovenský (1644-1718)
Antonín Reichenauer (ca. 1694-1730)
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745)
Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688–1758)
Antonio Caldara (c. 1670-1736)
Collegium Marianum [on period instruments]
Jana Semerádová - direction
[other volumes of the 'Music from Eightenn-Century Prague set]
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