For more news visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com<br />Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision<br />Follow us on Facebook ☛ http://facebook.com/NTDTelevision<br /><br />Many people enjoy the uplifting tone of Renaissance music. And that's what the Harant festival of historical choirs in Pecka, northeast Bohemia, is all about. Our correspondents bring you this report from one of the leading historical music festival in the Czech Republic.<br /><br />62 miles northeast of Prague lies a little village called Pecka and a Gothic castle of the same name.<br /><br />Its most distinguished resident here was a Renaissance artist Krystof Harant z Polčic a Bezdružic who worked at the royal court of Rudolf II.<br /><br />Every odd year, Pecka pays special tribute to this famous composer of Renaissance music.<br /><br />[Vera Kocianova, Pecka Castle Warden]:<br />"Krystof Harant was the most eminent owner of the Pecka castle. This versatilely educated man and Renaissance scholar made his mark in our history as a renown traveler and writer. What many people generally don't know, except for us in Pecka, is that Krystof Harant was one of the most distinguished Renaissance music composers."<br /><br />After Rudolf II passed away, the artist retired to Pecka where he was detained in 1621.<br /><br />Harant was later executed by order of Ferdinand II.<br /><br />That was June 21st 1621 in the Old Town Square in Prague.<br /><br />Every odd year since 1993 Pecka holds a historical choral festival in his memory which focuses on polyphonic Renaissance music.<br /><br />On the occasion of the Harant festival a historical hymn book is published every year containing also some of Harant works.<br /><br />During the festival different choirs interpret songs from the book and the panel of experts then judges their performances.<br /><br />Compositions for the hymn book come from 16th century hymnals.<br /><br />This year they were compiled by historian and music scholar Martin Horyna, who is also the chairman of the panel of judges...
