Musicologica Olomucensia

Josef Nešvera and Music at St. Wenceslas' Cathedral in Olomouc in the Years 1884-1914

Nešvera Josef (1842, Hořovice - 1914, Olomouc), a major representative of Smetana and Dvořák composer's school, choir director, a much sought-after teacher and performer, an honorary member of many Czech and Moravian associations and the holder of state honors, conducted the orchestra of the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas in Olomouc for thirty years (1884-1914). In promoting the Cyrillic reforms he relied on his predecessor Pavel Křížkovský (1820-1885).
His period meant the stabilization of organization and repertoire. The choir consisted of six singers and an equal number of pupils of the foundation school, it was strengthened by hiring scholars on Sundays and holidays.
In his repertoire - except Křížkovský and numerous Nešvera's works - occurred compositions by Renaissance authors (J. Handl-Gallus, O. di Lasso, G. P. da Palestrina and T. L. de Victoria), representatives from the German reform-oriented schools (F. X. Witt, E. Stehle, J. B. Benz and M. Brosig) and finally compositional domestic range (J. B. Foerster, K. Stecker, F. Picka, F. Hruška, J. C. Sychra, etc.). Nešvera's foundation also enjoyed good reputation and it produced many celebrities who were also applied in the professional music sector (S. Tauber, H. and M. Doležil and J. Kvapil). During Nešvera's tenure, Olomouc Dom choir ranked among the best church ensembles in Moravia.
The study deals with the compositional activities of Josef Nešvera. From more than 400 liturgical songs the sacramental significance reached 31 compositions and 4 requiems. Nešvera's compositional language is introduced through the analysis Missa sancti Theodori honorem in B flat major, Op. 67 (1893) and sacred cantatas St. Wenceslas (end of 80s of the 19th century).