BOHUSLAV MATĚJ ČERNOHORSKÝ (1684-1742)
Although a famous composer in the Czech Republic, not much of Cernohorsky’s music is performed by musicians in other countries. Cernohorksy was a very gifted man, having studied philosophy, theology and music at the university in Prague. He was also a composer, conductor, organist and trombonist. He became a monk at the famous St. James Monastery in Prague in 1704 and four years later he was ordained as a priest.
In 1710 he travelled to Assisi in Italy, the centre of the Franciscans, to which order he belonged. He quickly became the organist and conductor of the capella in the Santa Anna church there. Here he wrote his Regina coeli for double choir. In Assisi he met up with the well-known composer Giuseppe Tartini with whom he took lessons. Five years later he made the move to Padua, also in Italy. There he became the third organist of the San Antonio Basilica and sometimes played trombone in the capella.
Cernohorsky returned to Prague in 1720. He spent time in several monasteries and became famous for his musical endeavours. After some years he once again moved to Padua. Tartini had become the capo concerto there in the meantime and the monastery choir was directed by Francesco Valotti, of which many organists will have heard (Valotti tuning). Cernohorsky became organist of his old church in 1736 where he stayed for five years. He then decided to make the trip back to Prague, but stranded in a monastery in Graz, Austria where he died in 1742.
Unfortunately little is left of Cernohorsky’s organ music. One toccata and five fugues. He did leave behind several works for choir, a Psalm for alto and organ and a Trio Sonata for violin, gamba and harpsichord.
VIDEO
Marcel Verheggen plays Fuga in d moll on the 1699 Starck organ at Zlatá Koruna.
Václav Uhlíř plays Fuga in gis moll on the ca. 1770 Weltzel organ in the St. Archangel Michael’s Church in Králiky.
Pavel Černý plays Toccata in C dur on the 1750 Spiegel organ in Bezno.
All organs in the Czech Republic.
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