Benedicamus Domino (Six Christmas Carols for Soli, Choir, Organ and Orchestra) - Jan Kučera
"I have dealt with the idea of a complex symphonic arrangement of Christmas carols and songs for many years and the challenge of Prague Symphonic Orchestra FOK to perform them at Christmas season concerts in December 2015 has accelerated this idea and brought it to life.
Some of the songs that I included to the cycle Benedicamus Domino I had arranged and performed before in various arrangements for various orchestras. The first of them was a little known song When the Virgin Mary which I, still as a student of a Prague Conservatory, arranged in 1994 for the youngest children of Bambini di Praga Choir and which opens the whole cycle. Then, however, the choir was accompanied by seven musicians who were my classmates. Through songs-carols, Benedicamus Domino leads us through Christmas times – from the birth of Jesus Christ to an honest, a little mysterious but wishful message for all the people of good will in the New Year.
In my composition work I strived for humble and intimate approach prevails, with a clear awareness that I musically try to comment on something that transcends me and words are not enough. Benedicamus Domino is meditative and contemplative in some parts (When the Virgin Mary, Christ the Lord Was Born, the Sacred Song of Shepherds, Intermezzo II – The Time of Reconciliation), somewhere solemnly ecstatic (On Three Wise Men, Intermezzo I. – The Time of Great Joy), with a touch of humour in other moments (May Jesus Christ Be Praised where in counterpoint of clamorous brass music Czech folk song “Under the Oak Tree, Behind the Oak Tree“ appears) to somehow "Mahlerian" finale (The Glorious Day), using many little bells in the choir."
Parts only for hire at nakladatelstvi@rozhlas.cz
Other compositions by Jan Kučera published in Czech Radio:
Baroque Reminiscence / score
Baroque Reminiscence / piano score
Birth
Contemplation
Dancing You within
Full House
Joker
Suite concertante