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Arriving in 1717 on Dresden’s musical and especially operatic scene was one of its most brilliant stars, the Venetian Antonio Lotti (1667–1740). The list of famous composers and admired instrumentalists could go on and on: the eccentric violin virtuoso Francesco Maria Veracini, the famed fl utist Johann Joachim Quantz, the lute player Sylvius Leopold Weiss... and last but not least, the Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679–1745).
"At last I have the pleasure of offering you Responsoria by the blessed Mr. Zelenka, with the sincere wish, brother, that you might be granted the delight of tasting the sweet fruits of this almond tree."
We read these words by Johann Georg Pisendel in his letter to Georg Philipp Telemann dated 16 April 1749. Four years afer Zelenka’s death, Pisendel was generous in his praise of his colleague, and this is indicative of the recognition Zelenka enjoyed from among his fellow composers. Jan Dismas Zelenka is one of the most mysterious figures of music history. Although he lived most of his life in one of Europe’s most illustrious musical centers, we know only very little about his life. We do not know why he did not keep his original name Jan Lukáš and exchanged the name of the Evangelist for Dismas, the name of a sinner crucified at the right hand of Christ. He left behind no portrait or personal correspondence, and the fi rst 30 years of his live are shrouded in absolute secrecy. But there remained his emotive, original music, admired over the centuries for its detachedness and creative spirit.
Sound Samples
"At last I have the pleasure of offering you Responsoria by the blessed Mr. Zelenka, with the sincere wish, brother, that you might be granted the delight of tasting the sweet fruits of this almond tree."
We read these words by Johann Georg Pisendel in his letter to Georg Philipp Telemann dated 16 April 1749. Four years afer Zelenka’s death, Pisendel was generous in his praise of his colleague, and this is indicative of the recognition Zelenka enjoyed from among his fellow composers. Jan Dismas Zelenka is one of the most mysterious figures of music history. Although he lived most of his life in one of Europe’s most illustrious musical centers, we know only very little about his life. We do not know why he did not keep his original name Jan Lukáš and exchanged the name of the Evangelist for Dismas, the name of a sinner crucified at the right hand of Christ. He left behind no portrait or personal correspondence, and the fi rst 30 years of his live are shrouded in absolute secrecy. But there remained his emotive, original music, admired over the centuries for its detachedness and creative spirit.
Sound Samples
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