Czernohorsky (actually, Cernohorský), Bohuslav Matcj

views updated

Czernohorsky (actually, Černohorský), Bohuslav Matčj

Czernohorsky (actually, Černohorský), Bohuslav Matčj , distinguished Bohemian composer, organist, and teacher; b. Nimburg, Feb. 16, 1684;d. Graz, July 1, 1742. He studied at the Univ. of Prague. A Minorite monk, he was organist at Assisi from 1710 to 1715 (Tartini was one of his pupils) and choirmaster at S. Antonio in Padua from 1715 to 1720. Returning to Bohemia, he was Kapellmeister at the Teinkirche in Prague, and (1735) at St. Jacob’s (Gluck was among his pupils); he was again organist in Padua from 1731 to 1741. Many of his MSS were lost at the burning of the Minorite monastery (1754). An offertory and several organ fugues and preludes were publ. by O. Schmid in Orgelwerke altbohmischer Meister; five organ fugues have been ed. by K. Pietsch; a Regina Coeli for Soprano, Organ, and Cello obbligato, and a motet, Quern lapidaveruni, are also extant; Composizioni per organo constitute vol. three ofMusica antiqua Bohemica (Prague, 1968). The contrapuntal skill of Czernohorsky’s fugal writing is remarkable. Czech writers refer to him as “the father of Bohemian music” despite the fact that Czernohorsky never made thematic use of native rhythms or melodies.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

About this article

Czernohorsky (actually, Cernohorský), Bohuslav Matcj

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article