Franz Xaver Brixi

Missa Hyemalis

Interest in the sacred vocal music of the Prague cathedral conductor Franz Xaver Brixi is unbroken; its relative brevity and tonal freshness in particular still guarantee absolute liturgical suitability today. The title already indicates the special nature of this new mass, which was published in its first edition: During the harsh winter months, services in the unheated churches were not to last too long, which subsequently also affected the music. Brixi did not meet this requirement by omitting text from the Gloria and Credo, but by creating an artfully designed, easily understandable and comprehensible polytexture. The tonal result is also convincing: at any time of year and throughout the church year.