RURAL CANTOR´S MUSIC AFTER THE REFORMS OF MARIA THERESA AND JOSEPH II WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF SLOVAKIA

Анотація

Music historiography describes the history of music of Slovakia (part of the multiethnic Hungarian Kingdom until 1918) as an autochtonous phenomenon, as a history of music on its territory located at the crossroads of cultures and confessions. The paper tries to present more in detail the music practices of the rural cantors after the implementation of the educational reforms imposed by the empress (and queen) Maria Theresa – at the turn of baroque and classicism. The repertory of music played by rural cantors was very diverse in terms of genres and forms, although it had mostly a utility character with a minimum share of artistic music. Thanks to the organ music books preserved on the territory of Slovakia we know that organists – within the framework of church ceremonies – accompanied mostly spiritual songs (chants) sung by the believers in slovakized Biblical Czech, and added some typical baroque and classicist compositions to them. Rural teachers (scholars – erudites of that time) who also worked as organists and notaries in the country could rely on the scores, collections and compilations of organ music made by their trainers or predecessors at organ playing – most of the aids in question offered technically undemanding and anonymous repertory of Euroepan provenience.
Key words: music at the territory of Slovakia, church music, cantor, positive organ, organ music collections.