Regens chori figuralis Caspar Raff (1683–1738) i muzyka wokalno-instrumentalna w klasztorze Cystersów w Lubiążu na początku XVIII wieku
Regens chori fguralis Caspar Raff (1683–1738) and vocal-instrumental music at the Cistercian monastery in Lubiąż during the early eighteenth century

Summary/Abstract: One of the consequences of introducing polyphony, vocal-instrumental music and instrumental music into monastic liturgy was the establishment of a new office. In Cistercian monasteries in Silesia, a regens chori fguralis was appointed from the second half of the seventeenth century onwards. In the archives bequeathed by Silesian Cistercians to posterity, there is not a single description of this office, so we do not know what duties it involved. It is clear, however, that the regens supplied the repertoire to the ensemble (by purchasing or copying scores, or having them copied), taught the ensemble new compositions, led rehearsals to polish the performance of new music and conducted performances during liturgy and on other occasions (including large-scale works, such as oratorios and dramatic music). Traces of his day-to-day work have survived in music manuscripts. A distinguished name in the necrology of the Lubiąż monastery is that of a long-standing regens of the choir, friar Caspar Raff (1683–1738), an excellent musician and a monk of exceptional taste. He supplied the ensemble with many beautiful and rare compositions. He also composed liturgical works, as is confirmed by two recently identified sources. The twenty-two newly identified music manuscripts written completely or partially by Caspar Raff are the oldest known vocal-instrumental compositions in Lubiąż.

• Details
• Contents