Mikołaj Zieleński (2nd half of 16th c.-after 1611)
Offertoria et Communiones totius anni (excerpts)
performed by
Wroclaw Baroque Ensemble
(on period instruments)
Andrzej Kosendiak, dir.
Edition: NFM / CD accord 2020
Recording: Main Hall of the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music, Wrocław, Poland, 9/2019
TT: 48'36''
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In the 16th century Venice became one of the most important centres of musical life in Europe. The activities of numerous talented musicians of St Mark's Basilica, a dynamic growth of instrumental music, the adoption and creative development of polychoral techniques and the growth of thriving music printing houses all contributed to this propitious state of affairs.
To transalpine composers from the turn of the 17th century, composing in the Venetian style and having their works printed by local printing houses represented a mark of belonging to Europe's musical elite.
The only Polish composer to fulfil these criteria was Mikołaj Zieleński. His two-part work entitled Offertoria totius anni and Communiones totius anni, half of which consists of polychoral pieces, was published in 1611 by the Venetian printer Giacomo Vincenti.
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