8–9 December – Expectations of Joy: Antique Advent Songs – Michael POSPÍŠIL (CZ)

 

Lecturer's descriptions:

 

"Advent means 'the coming', something we look forward to. Unfortunately, the poor arrangements of Christmas songs screaming at us from assorted speakers starting every October provide little opportunity for true joy. They actually don't even give us a chance to think what it was we were really, really wanting to buy...

 

Fortunately, not all that is really important can be bought. It can't be even seen nevertheless, we can hear about it. Actually, hearing is closely connected to faith: we don't see, we hear... The same applies to the rich and beautiful heritage of antique Advent songs sometimes assembled in so-called “Rorates”.

 

I would hereby like to invite you to sing these joyful Advent songs. With the Ritornello ensemble, I have spent years in interesting and therefore rigorous work concentrating on the virtually limitless repository of antique songs which - in the case of the Advent repertory - accompany or lead us continuously from the Middle Ages to the present. There is no reason not to sing these songs throughout the entire Christmas period. On the other hand, to sing only "carols" - however well arranged - would amount to depriving ourselves of the joy of expectation. Working with professionals always implies one significant compromise: time efficiency. The time we give (perhaps through the commandment "remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy") we actually immediately receive as a gift. For the sake of efficiency, professional musicians lose the time to think what the music is about. However at seminars, there is time to penetrate deeper into the lyrics, melody, harmony, rhythm, sound and meaning of each composition.

 

Thus, we can counter the assault of Christmas with peace and joy and the accompaniment of period instruments. Furthermore, everybody can carry the songs home in their soul, ear and on paper.

 

More information about Michael Pospíšil can be found in the section.