... joining his colleagues from the horn section in the cardiac unit.  Zelenka's stratospheric virtuoso horn writing can be astonishing.

Although the court of Dresden, where he worked, was indeed Catholic (see for example the several rather beautiful Mass settings by J.D.Heinichen). I think, though I don't have chapter and verse to hand, that the "bitterness" is inferred rather than documented, from the fact that JDZ was repeatedly passed over for promotion; there are also some contemporary accounts of performances of his music which describe it in less than glowing terms. He seems also to have been less than confident about his own abilities as a composer, as could be inferred from his studies somewhat late in life with Fux and the existence of several alternative movements in his instrumental works in case the original, if I recall correctly, be considered too "coarse". Indeed his contrapuntal writing, while often intricate and original, frequently crosses the boundaries of what would have been considered good taste, eg. the closing bars of the French overture in the Ouverture a 7, which would have been frowned at in any counterpoint class then or now.

There still isn't a really recommendable recording of all of his orchestral music, I think: the Camerata Bern one is beautifully played but somewhat harshly recorded and on modern instruments, while the more recent one on cpo by "Das Neu-Eröffnete Orchestre" shows how natural horn playing has improved in the interim (I don't think those parts could have been played on unvalved instruments in the 1970s) and has its highlights, but is otherwise IMO a little lacking in bite and energy, and often seems to be trying to sweep some of the more "eccentric" moments in the music under the carpet so to speak. As for the trio sonatas, the set by Ensemble Zefiro is I think the one to go for. Who are the performers on the one you posted, Philidor?

I asked the Profs over on the Zelenka forum about Zelenka's alleged 'bitterness' and there's no truth in it. As the Zelenka forum members say: 'Anyone who knows Zelenka's last masses will know that he couldn't possibly have been bitter...' and 'His late masses are joyous, exhubrant, full of fun in places, and lovingly tender in other places. Certainly not the work of a "bitter" man by any stretch of the imagination.'

I think critics have made up the lie because they feel shame at Zelenka's neglect. It sort of justifies it: 'Oh, he was so bitter and may once have kicked a cat!' i.e. there's no need to listen to his music.

http://www.jdzelenka.net/forums/showthread.php?p=382

I haven't played much Zelenka, but the little I have is very unidiomatic for violin.  Maybe the people accusing him of bitterness are string players who can't get into his music as readily as wind players.

Yikes! I didn't mean to do that. I was only trying to read Ollie's little writing and it all went horribly wrong.

Welcome to the UK and to the English summer, Turfers. And, er, um, following Martle's lead, a big slurpy kiss from me too ... of the sort that Zelenka might or might not have been accustomed to giving.

Hmm. Tricky one, turfs. So many to choose from. Here's a selection of kerchiefs for the bonce aka head. Be quiet, Martle  
Kerchiefs for dogs ...
Or As if life wasn't complicated enough!

That's the operative phrase. No one knows if Zelenka was a miserable old fart or an irritating 'the glass is half full!' merchant. It's a mystery with no scholarly sources - not letters in which he complains of stomach ache or lost love, no contemporary accounts of him being caught weeping in the organ loft, ziltch. Yet numerous people now repeat the lie that he was 'bitter'. It's odd that an obscure 18th century Bohemian should be in receipt of the tabloid treatment.