The autograph of a short Latin mass in C major from 1801 documents one of the fourteen mass compositions composed by Josef Cyril Strachota, a teacher in Panenský Týnec.
Josef Cyril Strachota (1746–1809): Missa brevis ex C
Bohemia, Panenský Týnec 1801
NL Prague, 59 R 3511, front cover
The autograph of a short Latin mass in C major from 1801 documents one of the fourteen mass compositions composed by Josef Cyril Strachota, a teacher in Panenský Týnec. It contains vocal and instrumental parts with organ accompaniment. The typical cover was written by the author. In addition to the title page, it features a music incipit and the author´s inscription: „Ex Musicalibus Josephi Cyrilli Strachota [manu propria] 1801. Authoris“.
The legacy of the prominent Strachota family of cantors and choir masters in Panenský Týnec and Vrbno nad Lesy from the second half of the 18th and first half of the 19th centuries is regarded as one of the most important historical music collections in the holdings of the Music Department of the National Library of the Czech Republic. Its origin, repertoire, and considerable scope make it exceptional for study of the history of early music in Bohemia, specifically in the Louny region, which was the birthpalce of many outstanding musicians. The collection contains more than 500 pieces mainly of manuscript music, with most of them being written by the individual members of the Strachota family, who also fulfilled the duties of choir masters in the Church of St. George in Panenský Týnec between 1750 and 1882. That is why church music intended to accompany church services, especially masses, offertoires and graduals, spiritual arias and motets, prevails in the collection. The instrumental repertoire in the collection is represented mainly by chamber and symphonic music, remarkable are also several manuscript organ anthologies. The preserved music documents contain music by 193 composers. Renowned personalities of music classicism are followed by their outstanding Czech contemporaries, and there are also many completely unknown names among the composing cantors. Special attention is paid to Josef Cyril Strachota of Panenský Týnec, the most eminent music personality of the Strachota family. Thanks to him, the earliest music from the legacy of his father has been preserved, and he also left a number of his own musical compositions. His church compositions testify to the high quality of composer´s craft and are rare evidence of the author´s artistic self-expression. It was he who founded the family music archive and motivated his descendants to expand it. The four generations of the Strachota family contributed to the extensive heritage, which at the present significantly complements the source base of the history of Czech music.
The manuscript can also be viewed digitally here >>