Zelenka – Requiem in D minor (c.1725)

Jan Dismas Zelenka, born in Lounovice pod Blaníkem, Bohemia (now Czech Republic), in 1679, was a Baroque composer known for his contributions to sacred and instrumental music. A contemporary of J.S. Bach, Zelenka served as a composer and double bassist in the Dresden court of Augustus the Strong.

Despite his relatively modest recognition during his lifetime, Zelenka’s compositions, including his masses, oratorios, and instrumental works, have garnered appreciation for their inventive harmonies and counterpoint. The Requiem in D minor, composed around 1725, is one of Zelenka’s significant contributions to the liturgical repertoire.

Zelenka’s Requiem in D minor exists within the rich tapestry of Baroque sacred music, a genre marked by the intricate fusion of vocal and instrumental elements. Composed during a time when the Requiem Mass was a central form in Catholic liturgical music, Zelenka’s setting reflects the stylistic and emotional depth of the Baroque period. In the context of contemporary works, Zelenka’s Requiem stands as a testament to the flourishing musical culture of Dresden and the expressive possibilities inherent in the Requiem genre.