Robert Führer (1807 - 1861) was born in Praha, he
became the Director of Music at the Dome in 1839 at the
age of 32. He was deemed to be most talented, but he
lived a most expensive style of life. To support this
extravagant lifestyle he sold a valuable Stradivarius
violin which was owned by the Dome. This fact was
discovered in 1843, when he was dismissed for the
crime. Without a church to call home he wandered
through several different towns and villages, but never
stayed in any one place for...(+)
Robert Führer (1807 - 1861) was born in Praha, he
became the Director of Music at the Dome in 1839 at the
age of 32. He was deemed to be most talented, but he
lived a most expensive style of life. To support this
extravagant lifestyle he sold a valuable Stradivarius
violin which was owned by the Dome. This fact was
discovered in 1843, when he was dismissed for the
crime. Without a church to call home he wandered
through several different towns and villages, but never
stayed in any one place for too long. During this
period he had to support himself from sales of his
church music compositions. Luckily this was successful
because his music was well loved. No other composer's
works enjoyed as widespread performance amongst the
choirs in South Germany and Austria. His musical style
varies from a composer such as Mozart, and is more in
keeping with that of an early Caecilian. His works were
often written for rural choirs, meaning that they were
not too musically demanding. In spite of this, larger
and more difficult works can be found in his
repertoire. Although his works were sometimes judged to
not have been "carefully" composed, he surely was a
talented and experienced composer, well loved by his
public, and had an innate sense for composing a
beautiful melodic line.
The Regina Cæli or Regina Cœli ("Queen of Heaven"),
is an ancient Latin Marian Hymn of the Christian
Church. It is one of the four seasonal Marian antiphons
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, prescribed to be sung or
recited in the Liturgy of the Hours at the conclusion
of the last of the hours to be prayed in common that
day, typically night prayer (Compline or Vespers). The
Regina Coeli is sung or recited in place of the Angelus
during the Easter season, from Holy Saturday through
the Saturday after Pentecost.
Although originally created for accompanied chorus, I
created this arrangement for Piano, Woodwind Quartet
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet & Bassoon) and Brass Quartet
(Bb Trumpet, Flugelhorn, French Horn & Trombone).