Dopady josefínských reforem na hudební provoz městského farního kostela sv. Jakuba v Brně
The Impact of the Josephine Reforms on Musical Practice in the Urban Parish Church of St. James in Brno

Summary/Abstract: The Brno Parish Church of St. James was under the supervision both of religious and secular authorities. That is reflected particularly in the extent of the primary sources for musical practice, personnel of choirs, and living conditions of musicians. This article focuses on sources of the financing of musical practice in this urban parish church at the close of the 18th century. In the 1790s the financial and social situation of church musicians was unfavourably influenced by the new order of worship, and the abolition of the brotherhoods and reassignment of parishioners to the newly established parishes – both of these measures ordered by the Emperor Joseph II. The church musicians turned to the magistracy, requesting that the situation which had arisen be resolved. Based on source research, in the article we illustrate the extent of income loss that musicians suffered and the means by which they attempted to improve their arduous living conditions.

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