Offertorium Quoniam iniquitatem (parts) - Jan Hugo Voříšek / edited by Marek Štryncl
The source for the publication of the offerorium Quoniam iniquitatem is the autograph score stored in Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Wien in Vienna under the location number Wn Mus. Hs. 16441. Offertorium Quoniam iniquitatem was released as the eleventh volume of the historical series Thesaurus Antiquae Musicae.
On entering into the position of Viennese court organist in 1822, Voříšek had to face a change of artistic orientation, and of his musical routine. The only secular composition he was yet to finish was his piano Sonata op. 20 B flat minor; from this point on he was to devote his remaining creative force to the composition of sacred music. Offertorium Quoniam iniquitatem was dedicated to the association called Steiermärkrischer Musikverein after the author had been appointed an honorary member of the association during his trip to Graz (autumn 1824).
The initial Andante is marked for its homophonic setting full of romanticizing dramatic rhythmical and dynamic turns – at times gradual, but in the second part also surprisingly abrupt. The Allegro moderato represents a truly remarkable piece of art as designed by a top-class master of Baroque counterpoint and polyphony. Despite that, however, the accompanying violin ostinato and the harmonic background of the composition unmistakably evoke the late Classicist era. In the final monumental Adagio Voříšek’s music is inspired by the art of the Renaissance polyphonic composers that the author managed to blend with Classical-Romantic instrumentation. The resulting character, noted for its exceptional nobleness and religious force, has been present in the music of all the eras of the western civilization for centuries, ever since the rise of certain tokens of medieval music.
Other compositions by J. H. Voříšek published in Czech Radio:
Graduale Benedictus es (score)
Graduale Benedictus es (parts)
Offertorium Mentis opressae (score)
Offertorium Mentis opressae (parts)
Offertorium Quoniam iniquitatem (score)
instrumentationS A T B soli, 2ob, 2fg, 2trb (clarini in C), 3tbn, timp, vno I, vno II, vla, org [vcl, cb]descriptionpartspubl.NoR 162bprice240,- CZK