Partonage:
Michael von Habsburg-Lothringen
Archduke of Austria
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Fraternitas Litteratorum - CZ
The Fraternitas Litteratorum vocal ensemble specializes in period interpretation of 15th and 16th century polyphonic vocal pieces preserved in Czech archives, continuing the rich tradition of the Czech literary brotherhoods. It was originally founded as a male ensemble in 1998 by Stanislav Predota (singing not only as a soloist, but also as a member of Musica Antiqua Praha, Doulce mémoire, Musica Florea and Schola Gregoriana Pragensis) primarily with the intent of rehabilitating the reputation of Czech Renaissance polyphony, presenting its variety and elevating it from the realm of generally amateur performance. With this in mind, he assembled a choir of professional soloists capable of working together as an ensemble (in addition to singing in Fraternitas Litteratorum they also perform in groups including the Huelgas Ensemble, Capella Regia Musicalis, Ensemble Inégal and Musica Florea). In 2004 the choir has added soprano voices to its ranks, although their repertoire continues to consist chiefly of pieces for male voices only.
In Renaissance Bohemia the literary brotherhoods were a new type of church choir, music-loving burghers in groups of varying sizes devoted to plainchant and polyphonic liturgical singing. The period Latin title of the literary brotherhoods —fraternitas litteratorum— is unique to Bohemia and emphasized, in the spirit of humanism, education as the fundamental characteristic of the ensemble members. Up to the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 there were more than 100 literary brotherhoods in the churches of Bohemia, as well as more than 30 in Moravia. Fraternitas Litteratorum performs unique compositions, often pieces recently discovered in Czech archives and presented to modern audiences for the first time. The ensemble works closely with musicologist Dr. Martin Horyna, who ranks among the foremost Czech specialists in 15th and 16th century Renaissance polyphony, thanks to his long years of research and experience with historical sources.
Artistic Director - Stanislav Predota |
