HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Late Baroque Bohemian František Tuma

Birth of Classical Music: Frantisek Tuma

František Tuma

Source: Expedition Audio


Baptized in Kostelec nad Orlicí, Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic near Poland), on 2 August 1704, late Baroque composer, František Tůma, was an organist who also perform on the bass viol and theorbo (basically an exceedingly developed lute). Though he published nothing in his lifetime, as an author of sacred works, Tůma left about 65 masses, 29 vespers and Psalms and 5 settings of the Stabat Mater (Sorrowful Mother) in addition to music for orchestra, chamber and organ toward a total of some 224 works [Vogg]. Having a parish organist for a father, he was likely a student at the Jesuit seminary, the Clementinum, before studying under Bohuslav Matěj Černohorský in Prague as a chorister. He is thought to have become a vice-kapellmeister in Vienna in 1722 and would spend the next 46 years of his career residing in Vienna. In 1731 he became Compositor und Capellen-Meister to Count Franz Ferdinand Kinsky, High Chancellor of Bohemia. He soon afterward also studied counterpoint in Vienna with Johann Joseph Fux.

Tůma served Kinsky for ten years until the latter died in 1741, after which Tůma accepted the position of Kapellmeister to the widow (Elizabeth Kristina) of Holy Roman Emperor Karl VI (1685-1740), she granting him a pension upon her death in 1750. Tůma's liturgical hymn for the October celebration of Saint Teresia (Inno per il Festo di Sta Teresia), 'Regis superni nuntia' ('Messenger of the King on High'), was a setting to text by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) which appeared in manuscript in 1741. Dedicated to Elizabeth Kristina, it was written for alto, two violins, trombone, violoncello and organ:

 

'Regis superni nuntia'   Inno per il festo di Sta Teresia    František Tuma

'Messenger of the King on High'   Hymn for the celebration of Saint Teresa

In MS 1741   Vienna   Dedicated to Elisabetta Cristina   Text: Pope Urban VIII

For alto / 2 violins / trombone / violoncello / organ   Score

Countertenor: James Bowman    Ricercar Consort Ensemble   Album

 

Tůma's 'Missa della morte' in C minor arrived in 1742 consisting of two movements per a Kyrie followed by a Requiem:

 

'Requiem' of 'Missa della morte'   C minor    František Tuma

Second of 2 movements   1742   Vienna   Score

Czech Ensemble Baroque Orchestra / Roman Válek   2021

 

It was also about 1742 that Tůma's 'Sonata in E minor' for two trombones appeared in two movements per an Adagio and Allegretto. This was also scored for strings and organ as continuo:

 

'Adagio' & 'Allegretto' of 'Sonata in E minor'   František Tuma

Two movements for 2 trombones, strings and continuo (organ)   C 1742   Score

Trombones: Albert Hrubovcak & Jan Hrubovcak   Bratislava Chamber Soloists

 

Tůma's 'Te Deum Laudamus' à 4 was composed in 1745 for the Cistercian monastery west of Vienna in northern Austria, Stift Wilhering:

 

'Te Deum Laudamus'   František Tuma

For the Cistercian monastery Stift Wilhering   For 4 voices   1745

Musica Figurata / Martin Lily

 

Tůma's 'Trio Sonata in A minor' was entered into manuscript sometime between 1750 and 1775 written for two violins and continuo:

 

'Trio Sonata in A minor'   František Tuma

In MS sometime 1750-1775   3 movements for 2 violins w continuo   Score

Concerto Italiano / Rinaldo Alessandrini

 

Upon the death of his wife in 1768 Tůma changed his scenery to the Premonstratensian monastery of Geras in southern Austria. He returned to Vienna in time to die seven decades old in the convent of the Merciful Brethren at Leopoldstadt on 30 January 1774.

 

Further Sources & References for František Tůma:

Robert Cummings (All Music)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia Dutch

Wikipedia English

Wikipedia Italian

Audio of Tůma: Classical Archives   Presto

Recordings of Tůma: Catalogs: Discos   Music Brainz

Recordings of Tůma: Select:

Sinfonias, Partitas & Sonata by the Antiquarius Consort Praga:

ARTA Music (Czech Republic)

Tuma - Te Deum by the Czech Ensemble Baroque / Roman Válek / Supraphon SU 4315-2 / 2023:

Andrew Benson-Wilson   Arkiv   MusicWeb International   Supraphon

Scores / Sheet Music: Corpus:

CPDL (choral)

IMSLP

Musicalics (vendor)

Scores / Sheet Music: Individual:

Vesperae breves in C major (Dr. Jana Perutková / 2013)

Further Reading: Toutes les musiques du monde (forum)

Bibliography:

Gabriela Rampáčková (František Ignác Antonín Tůma and his chamber spiritual compositions from the Rajhrad monastery / Masarykova Univerzita / 2010)

Herbert Vogg (Franz Tuma (1704-1774) as an instrumental composer as well as contributions to Viennese music history of the 18th century / Universität Wien / 1951)

Authority Search: VIAF

Other Profiles:

Nicola Amalfitano   도덕산 (Dodeoksanin / Korean)   ReciClassiCat   Jennifer Shinska

 

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