The music of the Stift Heiligenkreuz in the Vienna
woods became known throughout the world a few
years ago: the CD “Chant – Music for Paradise”, on
which Cistercian monks from the monastery sang Gregorian
chorals, became an international chart success.
On this CD, the esoteric aspect of contemplative
sacred vocal music is less prominent; the focus is rather
on the power of the vocal and instrumental works
of the baroque age that are linked liturgically. In fact,
a brother of the monastery wrote some extremely
important compositions as early as the 17th century;
one of the places in which he published them was the
collection “Cultus Harmonicus”. From the works of
Father Alberich Mazak, the musical form of a baroque
liturgical mass at the Stift Heiligenkreuz can also be
reconstructed and this has been complemented on the
CD by pieces from other composers of the 17th century.
Leading the way here is the ensemble dolce risonanza,
the founder and conductor of which, Florian
Wieninger, reconstructed the vespers for Holy Cross
Day (Exaltatione Sanctae Crucis, 14 September). The
CD therefore offers a variety of ways of approaching
the music: celebrate solemn vespers in the company
of the dolce risonanza ensemble and the monks of the
Stift Heiligenkreuz while you discover the works of an
Austrian composer that were almost unknown until
now and which have been preserved in the library of
the Stift Heiligenkreuz.