Happy Birthday, Jan Josef Ignac Brentner - A Baroque Composer Worth Remembering!

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(Title image by DALL-E 3)

Hi, WA Friends!

Sorry, this is being posted one day late, but have you ever heard of Jan Josef Ignac Brentner?

He was one of those hidden gems from the Baroque era that got lost in history. Brentner was a Czech composer born on November 3rd, 1689, whose music was full of fun and spirit!

A Little History

Jan Josef Ignac Brentner

Jan Josef Ignac Brentner was born in a small town called Dobrany, which is now in the Czech Republic. He was part of a group of musicians that came after composers like Bach and Vivaldi.

Unlike some of the famous composers of his time, he didn't work in a royal court or as a famous church musician. Brentner lived a pretty quiet life, but he still managed to get his music heard - so much so that his pieces were sent as far as South America. His compositions ended up in Jesuit missions in Bolivia and Peru, where people played and enjoyed them.

Brentner wrote a lot of music for churches, and his sacred music had that special Baroque touch - the kind that could fill huge European churches with emotion and make people feel connected.

Why Was Brentner's Music Important?

Back in his day, church music was a big part of everyday life, it wasn't just background noise. People went to church not only to pray but also to enjoy good music. Brentner's music was known for being charming and easy to enjoy. He had a talent for mixing the fancy Baroque style with easy-to-sing tunes, which made his music fun even for people who weren't trained musicians!

Brentner's Compositions

Most of his work was church music - things like cantatas, motets, and masses. Here are a few of his well-known compositions:

(From ChatGPT)

  • "Offertoria Solennia": A collection of pieces for church services. They're happy, full of Baroque style, and perfect for anyone who loves a good trumpet line.
  • "Harmonica duodecatomeria ecclesiastica": Try saying that three times fast, lol. This was a collection of 12 church pieces, each one meant to lift the spirit.
  • Various Cantatas: Brentner wrote a bunch of cantatas - short vocal pieces often used in church. His cantatas were known for being melodic and not too complicated, which made them perfect for smaller church choirs.

Where Can You Hear Brentner's Music Today?

You might find some hidden gems if you look into Baroque recordings, but the best place to hear Brentner is on music streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube.

A few groups that specialize in early music have recorded his pieces. Ensemble Inรฉgal is one such group that has worked to bring Brentner's music back to life. They've recorded some of his offertories and cantatas, and listening to them is like taking a trip back in time!

Here is a list of some of the available recordings of Brentner's music:

(From ChatGPT)

  • "Jan Josef Ignac Brentner: Offertoria" - Performed by Ensemble Inรฉgal (2015)
  • "Baroque Bohemia & Beyond: Jan Josef Ignac Brentner" - Various artists (2002)
  • "Jan Josef Ignac Brentner: Harmonica duodecatomeria ecclesiastica" - Performed by Ensemble Inรฉgal (2018)
  • "Music of the Jesuit Missions in Bolivia" - Includes pieces by Brentner, performed by Florilegium (2007)

Brentner's Legacy - Why He Still Matters

Jan Josef Ignac Brentner might not be a famous name, but his contributions to Baroque music are still important. He made music that was both sophisticated and easy for everyone to enjoy. His music has a light and joyful quality that makes it stand out. Unlike Bach's intense harmonies or Vivaldi's dramatic flair, Brentner's pieces are simple and happy.

How We Celebrated Brentner's Birthday

We had some friends over to enjoy a collection of Brentner's Concertos & Arias with some good food and drinks.

Here is my first-pressing vinyl recording featuring Hana Blaลพรญkovรก, a Czech soprano and harpist.

Track Listing:

(From ChatGPT)

  • Harmonica Duodecatomeria Ecclesiastica, Collection Of Sacred Arias For Voice & Orchestra, Op. 1
    • 1 | 00:00:00 Aria No. 5 In G Major: Cor Meum Tibi Dedo
  • Horae Pomeridianae Seu Concertos Cammerales Op. 4 Nr. 1-6 (1720, Prague) / Chamber Concert No. 3 (B-flat major)
    • 2 | 06:30:32 1. Largo
    • 3 | 08:59:27 2. Allegro
    • 4 | 10:55:66 3. Largo
    • 5 | 11:29:53 4. Allegro
  • Horae Pomeridianae Seu Concertos Cammerales Op. 4 Nr. 1-6 (1720, Prague) / Chamber Concert No. 1 (G minor)
    • 6 | 12:57:37 1. Largo
    • 7 | 15:17:14 2. Allegro
    • 8 | 17:14:06 3. Bourrรฉe
    • 9 | 18:20:32 4. Capriccio. Presto
  • Harmonica Duodecatomeria Ecclesiastica, Collection Of Sacred Arias For Voice & Orchestra, Op. 1
    • 10 | 19:20:54 Aria No. 12: Sonata
    • 11 | 21:04:26 Aria No. 12: O Deus, Ego Amo Te
  • Horae Pomeridianae Seu Concertos Cammerales Op. 4 Nr. 1-6 (1720, Prague) / Chamber Concert No. 6 (C minor)
    • 12 | 26:24:23 1. Largo
    • 13 | 28:11:50 2. Allegro
    • 14 | 30:24:15 3. Minuet
    • 15 | 31:33:71 4. Gigue
  • Horae Pomeridianae Seu Concertos Cammerales Op. 4 Nr. 1-6 (1720, Prague) / Chamber Concert No. 4 (G major)
    • 16 | 32:53:17 1. Largo
    • 17 | 35:12:64 2. Allegro. Vigil Nocturnus
    • 18 | 36:57:07 3. Minuet
  • Harmonica Duodecatomeria Ecclesiastica, Collection Of Sacred Arias For Voice & Orchestra, Op. 1
    • 19 | 38:20:21 Aria No. 2 In C Minor: Ubi Jesu
  • Horae Pomeridianae Seu Concertos Cammerales Op. 4 Nr. 1-6 (1720, Prague) / Chamber Concert No. 5 (F major)
    • 20 | 43:53:66 1. Largo
    • 21 | 45:56:06 2. Allegro
    • 22 | 47:26:09 3. Capriccio, Trio
  • Horae Pomeridianae Seu Concertos Cammerales Op. 4 Nr. 1-6 (1720, Prague) / Chamber Concert No. 2 (D minor)
    • 23 | 49:08:41 1. Adagio
    • 24 | 51:26:36 2. Allegro
    • 25 | 53:57:46 3. Adagio
    • 26 | 55:43:72 4. Minuet
  • Graduale Pro Dominica Quinquagesimae Proprium, For Voice & Chamber Orchestra In A Minor "Tu Es Deus"
    • 27 | 57:05:74 Tu Es Deus

You can listen to the entire collection of performances on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/LgSLFNyLTBs?si=TFZNGQGc8RCMvhWE

Tell Me What You Think!

Have you heard of Jan Josef Ignac Brentner?

Do you like Baroque music? If so, be sure to listen to the free recordings in the YouTube link above, preferably in a relaxing environment, so you can take in all the splendor of its simplicity and elegance!

Happy birthday, Jan Josef Ignac Brentner! ๐ŸŽ‚

May your music continue to be rediscovered and bring joy to all who love great music from the Baroque era! ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Let me know in the comments, AND ...

Keep On Rockin' It! ๐Ÿค˜

(Pin by DALL-E 3)

Frank ๐ŸŽธ

~ 50% Human written content.

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Recent Comments

22

I do like Baroque music -- thanks for telling us about this little-known composer.

Youโ€™re welcome, Fran.

The YouTube link I provided gives about one hour of his most popular compositions. Well worth a listen! ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Frank ๐ŸŽธ

I've read about how those Baroque church composers were efficient in spinning out cantatas the way we spin out pop music nowadays. I think Bach wrote almost one every week!

Bach and Vivaldi's pieces I know - but not Brentner's. I'll have to take a deep dive into some of his recordings. I'll check out the YouTube recommendations. ๐Ÿ‘

And remember, Frank - if it ain't Baroque? Don't fix it!

Appreciate the post! ๐ŸŽธ๐Ÿค˜
Isaiah ๐Ÿ˜Š

Hi Isaiah

Yes, cantatas were a very popular part of the religious experience back then.

I'm quite certain you'll find Brentner's music a refreshing experience! Let me know what you think.

If it ain't Baroque, don't fix it! - Hahaha, you're a funny guy! ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ˜Ž

Enjoy His Music & Rock On! ๐Ÿค˜
Frank ๐ŸŽธ

As a fan of classical music, I have heard of Brentner. I find his music to be calming, light, and mostly cheerful. I'm currently in work mode, so I'll put your YouTube recommendation to work as well. Thanks Frank!

That's great, Dave! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

Classical music (and opera) are the BEST! ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Rock On! ๐Ÿค˜
Frank ๐ŸŽธ

I havenโ€™t really delved into opera. The classical station here used to cycle three or four operas. Carmen, the barber of Seville, and a couple others. I imagine I would appreciate opera more if I attended a few. I heard Quincy died last night. Sad.

Hi Dave

Yes, hearing opera and attending a live operatic performance are two different experiences!

Still, the music and voices that dominate opera simply blow me away. Being able to understand what they are singing is a plus, but it doesn't diminish what's happening musically. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Yeah, it's a shame about Quincy, but he made it to 91.

Rock On! ๐Ÿค˜
Frank ๐ŸŽธ

Thank you for this educative piece, Frank.

I live in the Czech Republic, and I've never heard of him.

I'll check the Youtube.

Thanks.

Regards,

- Makinde

You're welcome, Makinde. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Yeah, have a listen, and then let me know how you liked the arrangement of the musical pieces.

Frank ๐ŸŽธ

Thanks a lot for the info.
It's a shame - I was born in Czechoslovakia and I never heard of the man :(

Cheers
Michal

Me neither, Michal! :)
Abie

No worries, Michal. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Check out his music on the YouTube link, and it will give you an excellent idea of Brentner's musical style.

Frank ๐ŸŽธ

Hi Abie

Have a listen, and I'm sure you'll be impressed! ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐ŸŽถ

Frank ๐ŸŽธ

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