Musicologica Olomucensia

The recently discovered collection of psalms by A. Michna Officium Vespertinum contains 22 compositions, written for one solo voice (14 for soprano, 2 for alto, 3 for tenor or soprano, 2 for bass and one for mezzo), a four-part chorus and basso continuo. Included in the collection are also the "Falsi burdoni" for double chorus. Officium primarily brings us a fuller view of the work of the author with a Latin text and acquaints us with his compositional style in the fourties of the 17th century (the work was published in 1648). He uses imitation technique only minimally, instead of that a whole row of comparison with song production is offered. Related to the Psalms is the Magnificat for 12 voices from the Musical Archive in Wroclaw (now at the Staats-Bibliothek in Berlin). Only the organ part is original - the rest of the work was considerably redone in Wroclaw. Apparently this is the oldest preserved Michna work.