Schola Gregoriana Pragensis

Schola Gregoriana Pragensis (English: The Gregorian School of Prague) is an a cappella male voice choir from the Czech Republic, founded in 1987 by David Eben. Their core repertoire consists of Gregorian chant, Bohemian plainchant, and early polyphony, but they also perform modern works including some composed for them.

Schola Gregoriana Pragensis
Choir
Founded1987 (34 years ago)
FounderDavid Eben
GenreMedieval sacred music including Gregorian chant and Bohemian polyphony
Music directorDavid Eben
AwardsChoc du monde de le musique
10 de Repertoire
Zlatá Harmonie
Websitewww.gregoriana.cz/en/sgp

Description

Schola Gregoriana Pragensis

The Schola Gregoriana Pragensis is an award winning choir from the Czech republic with primary focus on Gregorian chant and Bohemian plainchant. The choir formed in 1987 under the direction of David Eben and was restricted in its repertoire to only liturgical music for the first two years. Since the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the choir has extended its repertoire to include a variety of sacred music, with particular focus on Gregorian chant (monophonic Latin liturgical music) and early polyphony.

The choir has won several awards, including the Choc du monde de le musique, 10 de Repertoire and Golden Harmony (Zlatá Harmonie).[1] Since inception they have toured a variety of countries.

Of particular importance is the choir's work in researching and performing Bohemian plainchant and early polyphony.

The choir has between six and nine members with a repertoire of various sacred music. They have toured many countries, including Japan, Israel, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.[1]

Their work in the interpretation of medieval music, with particular focus on Bohemian plainsong, is particularly significant with a focus on the symbolism of neumatic notation from the 10th and 11th centuries. Performances feature the original Bohemian plainchant tradition, including the earliest examples of polyphony. In addition they have performed music from 14th and 15th century and more modern compositions, including some written specifically for the group.

They have produced numerous recordings under the Supraphon and other labels.

The choir has participated in early music festivals, including the Festival Early Music at Utrecht in 2014.[2]

The work of David Eban and the choir has featured in Czech academic publications related to musicology.[3]

David Eben
David Eben
Born (1965-01-06) 6 January 1965
Prague, Czech Repulblic
GenresEarly Music and Choral direction
Occupation(s)Academic
InstrumentsVocal, clarinet
Years active1992–present (2016)
Websitehttp://www.gregoriana.cz/en/stranka/david-eben

David Eben[4] is the son of composer Petr Eben and is the founder and director of Schola Gregoriana Pragensis. He started studies in musicology at the philosophy school of the Charles University in Prague in 1986 following completion of his training in clarinet at the Prague Conservatory. He began concentrating on mediaeval music in 1986 and graduated from Paris Conservatory (Conservatoire de Paris) having studied Gregorian chant conducting.

He established the Schola Gregoriana Pragensis in 1987.

He regularly teaches theory and practice of Gregorian chant at summer school at Musiques et Patrimoine Rânes, Normandy, France and at the Festival de Musique Sacré de Fribourg in Switzerland.

He has collaborated with Czech radio to produce programs on Gregorian chant.[1]

As of 2016, he works at Charles University in Prague, where he lectures in musicology and liturgy.

Other choir members
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
  • Stanislav Predota [5] is one of the founding members of Schola Gregoriana Pragensis.

Discography
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The group has made the following recordings:[1][6][7]

  • 1995 – Rosa Mystica Supraphon SU 0194-2 231 [8]
  • 1997 – Liturgical Year – Gregorian chant
  • 1998 – Antica e moderna [9]
  • 1996 – In Pragensi Ecclesia
  • 1999 – Codex Franus
  • 2002 – Ach, homo fragilis
  • 2004 – Missa III., Vesperae Beatae Mariae Virginis, Litaniae B. M. V. à 8.
  • 2005 – Maiestas Dei
  • 2007 – Salve Mater, Salve Jesu
  • 2009 – Dom zu St. Blasien Orgelmusik und Gregorianischer Choral
  • 2009 – Musica Sacra – Buddhist Shõmyõ & Gregorian Chants
  • 2010 – Dialogs (Jiří Bárta – violoncello)
  • 2011 – Adventus Domini
  • - – Carolus IV
  • - – Christus natus est: Gregorian Chant on Christmas Eve
  • - – Anno Domini 997
  • - – Musica Sacra: Buddhist Shõmyõ & Gregorian Chants

References
  1. "Schola Gregoriana Pragensis". Supraphon. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  2. "Concert review from Festival Early Music Utrecht 2014". Musica Dei Donum. With the concert of the Schola Gregoriana Pragensis we moved forward almost two centuries. This ensemble focuses on early plainchant and polyphony from Bohemia.
  3. Kučírková, Kristýna (2007). "Schola Gregoriana Pragensis versus Svatomichalská gregoriánská schola aneb Dva způsoby poučené interpretace". Teoretické reflexe hudební výchovy (in Czech). Brno: Masarykova univerzita. 3 (1). ISSN 1803-1331. Retrieved 5 March 2016. Title in English: Schola Gregoriana Pragensis versus Svatomichalská gregoriánská schola, two ways of interpretation
  4. "David Eban, Biography". Charles University Prague, Faculty of Arts Institute of Musicology. Retrieved March 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  5. "Stanislav Predota data". Personal website.
  6. Schola Gregoriana Pragensis discography at Discogs
  7. Schola Gregoriana Pragensis at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  8. Schola Gregoriana Pragensis – Rosa Mystica at Discogs
  9. Schola Gregoriana Pragensis: Antica e moderna at AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
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