Josef Anton Sehling (1710-1756)
- In natali Domini
Performers: Thurgauer Kammerchor und Barockensemble; Raimund Rüegge (conductor)
Drawing: Jean Sauvé (1635-1692) - Prague
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Bohemian composer. After studying music in Prague and Vienna, he was 
appointed choirmaster of two Prague monastic churches, as well as court 
musician and composer of Count Morzin. He was also active as second 
violinist to the metropolitan Prague Cathedral from 11 January 1737. He 
did not succeed in gaining either the post of choirmaster (in March 
1737) or that of a first violinist there (1739), but he assisted the 
choirmaster Jan František Novák during the latter’s illness. In 1743 his
 music to the drama Judith was performed by the Prague Jesuits on the 
coronation of Maria Theresa as Queen of Bohemia. In Sehling’s music 
collection, which formed a large part of the metropolitan chapter music 
library (591 items, now in CZ-Pak), sacred works of retrospective 
(Venetian and Viennese) and modern (Neapolitan) style are equally 
represented. His own output stands between the late Baroque and 
pre-Classical styles. His apparently earlier compositions are close in 
style to the sacred music of Caldara, while in other works a Neapolitan 
continuo-homophony predominates. The instrumental parts, especially 
violins, gradually assume a more important role, while the vocal parts 
are subordinate and rather static. His Christmas motets, pastoral masses
 and pastorellas are among the most important specimens of the genre in 
Bohemia before F.X. Brixi. His brother František Sehling (1715-1774) was
 a tenor and instrumentalist; he sang at Prague Cathedral from 1743, and
 acted as deputy when Josef Antonín was absent.

 
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