František Tůma (Motets, Dixit Dominus, Sinfonia)

Featuring

Andreas Scholl
Roman Válek
Czech Ensemble Baroque Orchestra
Czech Ensemble Baroque Choir
František Ignác Antonín Tůma

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Composer Biography

František Tůma, a native Czech composer, was considered one of the most important musicians in Vienna in the mid-18th century.

Compositional Technique

Tůma's motets for solo alto demand great virtuosity and expressivity, indicating the high quality of the singers in Empress Elisabeth Christina's ensemble.

Composition History

Tůma's position as director of Empress Elisabeth Christina's musical ensemble was the peak of his career, where his conservative style matched her taste.

Compositional Technique

Tůma's liturgical works were praised for their masterfully crafted polyphonic passages, a legacy from his teacher, the famous contrapuntist Johann Josef Fux.

Historical Context

After Emperor Charles VI's death, his widow Empress Elisabeth Christina maintained a court at Hetzendorf Castle that preserved the splendor of the previous era, in contrast to the more modest imperial court under Maria Theresa.

Instruments

Tůma's ensemble for Empress Elisabeth Christina, modeled on previous imperial widows' ensembles, sometimes reinforced the choir with a zither, two trombones, and a bassoon.