Czech Christmas Mass(Česká mše vánoční)

Czech Christmas Mass (Czech: Česká mše vánoční; Latin: Missa solemnis Festis Nativitatis D. J. Ch. accommodata in linguam bohemicam musikamque redacta – que redacta per Jac. Joa. Ryba) is a classic pastoral mass written by the Czech composer Jakub Jan Ryba in 1796. Because of its opening words, it is also known as Hail, Master! or Hey, Master! (in Czech: Hej, mistře!). Czech Christmas Mass was composed in a frame of traditional Latin mass (with parts Kyrie, Gloria etc.), the story is based on Christian theme of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Despite this, the work has a rather pastoral character with emphasis on a Czech description of the nativity in a Czech setting. During the centuries, the composition became the most popular Christmas mass in Czech countries and one of the musical symbols of Czech Christmas.

The music of Ryba's mass along with paintings by Josef Lada appear in a 2007 animated film called Česká mše vánoční (Czech Christmas Mass).

TVRip
Runtime 00:42:00
Video MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, ~1 500 kpbs
Resolution 766x576
Audio AAC , 2.0, 128 kpbs, czech

The mass consists of nine parts:

1. Kyri – The opening part begins with a well known verse "Hej, mistře, vstaň bystře!" ("Hey Master, get up quickly!"). A young shepherd wakes his master, they both wonder at various unusual phenomena of nature.

2. Gloria – a hymn to celebrate the birth of Christ.

3. Graduale – Shepherds assemble the people from all the regions and lands. The part ends with an appeal: "K Betlému teď půjdeme, Boha slavit budeme." ("We're going to Bethlehem, to celebrate the God.")

4. Credo – In the Czech Christmas Mass, Credo describes the preparations for the pilgrimage to Bethlehem.

5. Offertorium – the gathering over the manger; People offer musical gifts to God and Christ.

6. Sanctus – the shortest part of the composition, an angelic hymn.

7. Benedictus – This part with solo soprano in the central role is dedicated to the celebration of the newborn Redeemer.

8. Agnus – parting with Christ, plea for protection of all people.

9. Communio – The final part ends with monumental choral hymn celebrating the Holy Trinity.