Ryba: 3 Pastorellas; Czech Christmas Mass

Featuring

Robert Hugo
Magdalena Kožená
Gabriela Eibenová
Jaroslav Březina
Michael Pospíšil
Capella Regia Prague

Jakub Jan Ryba

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Instruments

This recording features Capella Regia Musicalis on authentic instruments, and the organ used was built by Johann Leopold Burkhardt in 1726.

Performer Biography

Magdalena Kožená, the mezzo-soprano on this recording, grew up with Ryba's music, recalling that 'Every little church does its own amateur performance on Christmas Eve'.

Interpretation

Magdalena Kožená notes that the Czech Christmas Mass should be sung simply, 'as if it was a folksong', without much vibrato, to preserve its charm.

Composer Biography

Jakub Jan Ryba, born in 1765 in Bohemia, was among the earliest Czech composers to use his native tongue in his works, promoting Czech nationalism in music.

Cultural Impact

Jakub Jan Ryba's Czech Christmas Mass, also known as 'Hej, mistře' ('Hey, master'), has been a cherished Christmas tradition in Czech-speaking lands for over 200 years.

Composition History

Ryba's Czech Christmas Mass, dating from 1796, used a vernacular text, contributing to its enduring popularity and aligning with Enlightenment ideals.

Compositional Technique

Although it uses traditional Latin names for movements, Ryba's work is not strictly a mass but a miniature sacred drama, incorporating pastorellas with folk music influences and instruments like bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy.