The „Rosary Prayer“ – notably the most important, best-known and most widespread popular prayer of the Catholic Church – has circulated already in the Middle Ages in Europe and inspired the greatest artists to create works that are admired to this day (Albrecht Dürer, Heinrich Biber). We are very proud that with this production a small „treasure“ on this topic is finally lifted. Pope Pius V had formally established how to pray the Marian Rosary in a 1569 bull; it can be assumed that Zielenski – at that time already born – therefore followed this order:
- Joyful Mysteries • Sorrowful Mysteries • Glorious Mysteries
Since then, there has been no significant change until in 2002 John Paul II added the group of the „Luminous Mysteries“ to the Rosary.
The founder and conductor of the ensemble „La Tempesta“, Jakub Burzynski, has undergone a most remarkable musicological work, with the intention of optimally reconstructing the richness of the texture and the style of Zielenski’s music, while at the same time preserving the sound of the epoch as faithfully as possible (singers: only contratenors, falsettists, instead of boys‘ voices, instruments: zinks, baroque trombones, dulcian, viola da gamba, lute and chitarrone, organ positive). A baroque feast for the ear!