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JIRI LABURDA: MISSA CLARA – THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CONTEMPORARY CZECH MASS

NEDELKA, M.

Abstract

Contemporary Czech liturgical music is a genre which has been given an official attention of cultural community only after the year 1989. It relates to the political situation and the state ideology that prevented the spread of this music and even obstructed its musicological processing or pedagogical use. However, until this time, it has not been systematically analyzed, although the differences of styles and experience from concert presentations show that this music deserves the attention of artists, students, scholars and teachers. The way to change this situation is using methods of comprehensive analysis and analytical interpretation. In this case, it is especially important to analyze the style and musical means as a prerequisite for successful musical interpretation and understanding of the work. Mass is a specific genre in this respect. Its music is so subordinated to the word that it comes into conflict with the principles of natural gradation of the musical cycle. Also the way of musical expression is unique. That means respect to traditions of liturgical music according to the liturgical space and to the Second Vatican Council conclusions. Composer of European importance composing in these terms is Jiři Laburda. Missa clara for children's choir and organ being interpretatively grateful thanks to its wealth of tuneful melodies well represents the above mentioned framework. Instrument takes an important role as accompaniment but also as equal partner of vocal lines. Missa clara shows rich inspiration by Czech traditional liturgical singing – sequential gradation shifts, declamation lines with melodic variations in the conclusions phrases, church modality. Although the conformity between the nature of the text and music is typical, in some parts, music and the text are in a conflict. This kind of work proves objectification of communication, the preservation of its timeless validity without an extraordinary emotional commitment. The article analytically interprets these features and serves as an image of contemporary liturgical works, which represents not only the production of the composer himself, but also the essential features of the genre in general. As such it can contribute to the interpretation and an advanced understanding of contemporary Czech liturgical music and contemporary musical means and to the education within music theory and pedagogy as well.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/SGEMSOCIAL2014/B41/S14.041

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