When you think of ancient music in Slovakia, the first and foremost ensemble you would come across is Musica Aeterna. And with Musica Aeterna comes the name of the eminent Ján Albrecht (1919-1996). A musician, musicologist, pedagogue, essayist and translator. It is a story truly worth telling.
Ján Albrecht was born right after the new state of Czechoslovakia came into existense. A period, which was probably filled with new élan and hunger for knowlegde, going forward, building a new state! In this environment Ján Albrecht grew up and for sure was true to the spirit of free learning and philosophy. At his house, regularly a group of people met, to make music together, to discuss, read poetry or prose, even lectures on mathematics or physics, or taste good wines. His doors were always open to anyone.
Thanks to his wide network contacts abroad, he received numerous articles, books, music as well as recordings, which were not freely available in the then communist Czechoslovakia (albeit not for political reason, only simply it was a foreign trend). As being a viola professor at the Bratislava Music Academy, the news spread quickly around through the circle of students - even outside the Music Academy. Albrecht's home soon was inofficially labelled as being the "University at Kapitulská Street". His creed was, that not specialising into a narrow tunnel you better functioning in your 'job', but rather having a broad knowlegde as possible; having a broad overview.
It was here, where for the first time, people were listening and marvelling at ancient music recordings on authentic instruments, wich was a not accessible to the proletariat society. This marvel resulted that the visiting young music students like Peter Zajíček and others started to form an ensemble, exploring the practise of ancient music performances. The successes were widely recognised, such that from 1986 thi
s ensemble became a part of the Slovak Philharmonic. Since 1989 it started to use instruments from the 17th or 18th centrury, respectively replicas. Since 2005 Musica Aeterna became an independent body, losing it's Philharmonic umbrella, but a separation, which resulted in a more prosperous quality growth.
The ensemble organises numerous concerts, in Slovakia as well as abroad, where they score great successes. The style of playing is superb, highly professional, even preferring them sometimes over the more settled ensembles from the "West".
As I met Peter Zajíček again at a concert last night, and were discussing a few
things with him, I am always deeply impressed and touched by his never-ending drive and energy, his fascination for music. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Fully in the spirit of Ján Albrecht. May his memory be ever blessed.
MS
Ján Albrecht was born right after the new state of Czechoslovakia came into existense. A period, which was probably filled with new élan and hunger for knowlegde, going forward, building a new state! In this environment Ján Albrecht grew up and for sure was true to the spirit of free learning and philosophy. At his house, regularly a group of people met, to make music together, to discuss, read poetry or prose, even lectures on mathematics or physics, or taste good wines. His doors were always open to anyone.
Thanks to his wide network contacts abroad, he received numerous articles, books, music as well as recordings, which were not freely available in the then communist Czechoslovakia (albeit not for political reason, only simply it was a foreign trend). As being a viola professor at the Bratislava Music Academy, the news spread quickly around through the circle of students - even outside the Music Academy. Albrecht's home soon was inofficially labelled as being the "University at Kapitulská Street". His creed was, that not specialising into a narrow tunnel you better functioning in your 'job', but rather having a broad knowlegde as possible; having a broad overview.
It was here, where for the first time, people were listening and marvelling at ancient music recordings on authentic instruments, wich was a not accessible to the proletariat society. This marvel resulted that the visiting young music students like Peter Zajíček and others started to form an ensemble, exploring the practise of ancient music performances. The successes were widely recognised, such that from 1986 thi
s ensemble became a part of the Slovak Philharmonic. Since 1989 it started to use instruments from the 17th or 18th centrury, respectively replicas. Since 2005 Musica Aeterna became an independent body, losing it's Philharmonic umbrella, but a separation, which resulted in a more prosperous quality growth.The ensemble organises numerous concerts, in Slovakia as well as abroad, where they score great successes. The style of playing is superb, highly professional, even preferring them sometimes over the more settled ensembles from the "West".
As I met Peter Zajíček again at a concert last night, and were discussing a few
things with him, I am always deeply impressed and touched by his never-ending drive and energy, his fascination for music. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Fully in the spirit of Ján Albrecht. May his memory be ever blessed.MS
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