Mater (CD and publication about the music project of Vlado Godar)

CD Mater features the most recent compositions by Vlado Godar performed by Iva Bittova, Solamente naturali ensemble led by the first violinist Milos Valent, Choir of Bratislava Conservatory prepared by a choirmaster Dusan Bill and conducted by Marek Stryncl. The CD reflects the concert by the Solamente naturali ensemble with Iva Bittova on the Bratislava Music Festival 2003, however, the recording itself is not from the concert; it was realized at the end of summer 2005 in the St. George Church in Svaty Jur.

"Mater and the order of tracks were inspired by the title of the novelist Bohumil Hrabal (1914-1997) and his short story A Legend Played on Strings Stretched between a Cradle and a Coffin, and by the semantics of the Christian church year (birth - death - resurrection). The protagonist is Woman-Mother who gives life (Magnificat), shapes (Lullabies), buries and mourns (Mother Stood) and praises (Regina Coeli). This totality is complemented by two meditations on the passing of time in human life the musings of an anonymous Jewish yeshiva student (Maykomashmalon) and the reflections of a modern-day intellectual (James Joyce's Ecce Puer).

The compositions for female voice and period instrument ensemble were in many ways inspired by Iva Bittova, her art, personality and perhaps even her life. A depth of time is very much present in her art, going back to the very beginnings of music and reaching all the way to our problematic present. My friends Milos Valent, Dusan Bill and Marek Stryncl combined their artistic creed with a discovery of beauty in terms of our musical past, thus creating a powerful bond between us, in this archaeological adventure," writes composer Vladimir Godar.

Other reflections of Vladimir Godar as well as lyrics, illustrations and pictures from the concert in Svaty Jur you can find in publication Mater. CD is a part of the book. Text is in Slovak and English languages.

CD Contents (In English and Slovak):

1 Maykomashmalon for female voice, viola and cello, (2005 - sung in Yiddish)
1 Majkomasmalon pre zensky hlas, violu a violoncelo, (2005, spievane v jidis)
2 Magnificat for female voice, choir, string orchestra and harp, (2003 - sung in Slovak)
2 Magnificat pre zensky hlas, zbor, slacikovy orchester a harfu, (2003, spievane v slovencine)
3 Lullabies for female voice, two violins, two violas and cello, (2001/2003 - sung in Slovak)
3 Uspavanky pre zensky hlas, dvojo husli, dve violy a violoncelo, (2001/2003 - spievane v slovencine)
4 Ecce puer for female voice, two violins, viola, double-bass, harp, chitarrone and harpsichord, (1997 - James Joyce - sung in English)
4 Ecce puer pre zensky hlas, dvojo husli, violu, kontrabas, harfu, chitarrone a cembalo, ( 1997 - James Joyce, spievane v anglictine)
5 Mother Stood for alto, violin and chamber orchestra, (2001 - sung in Slovak)
5 Stala Matka pre alt, husle a komorny orchester, (2001, spievane v slovencine)
6 Regina coeli for female voice, violin, choir and chamber orchestra, (2003 -sung in Latin)
6 Regina coeli pre zensky hlas, husle, zbor a komorny orchester (2003, spievane v latincine)
7 Maykomashmalon for female voice, viola and cello, (2005 - sung in Yiddish )
7 Majkomasmalon pre zensky hlas, violu a violoncelo, (2005, spievane v jidis)