Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Jakub Jan Ryba
Person · male · Kingdom of Bohemia · Přeštice · born 1765 · died 1815 · recording since 1966
Czech teacher and composer on the break of classicism and romantism
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Also known as Jakub Jan Ryba · Jakub Šimon Jan Ryba · Peace · Poisson · Ryballandini · Rybaville · +1 more
Timeline
13 events▣ Album 10◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1760s
1810s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: Czech Christmas Mass
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography442 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1368638660
Biography
Jakub Šimon Jan Ryba (surname also Poisson, Pesce, Ryballandini, Rybaville; 26 October 1765 – 8 April 1815) was a Czech teacher and composer of classical music. His most famous work is the Czech Christmas Mass ("Hey, Master!"; Česká mše vánoční, "Hej mistře!").
Life
Ryba was born on 26 October 1765 in Přeštice near Plzeň. His father was a schoolteacher, which was a very poorly paid occupation at the time. In 1780 Ryba went to Prague, where he studied at the Piarist gymnasium. His teacher Cassianus Hanel taught him music. Ryba was a very good student and he soon started to compose. He dreamt of being a famous composer. In 1784 his father ordered him to work as a teacher in Nepomuk. Ryba reluctantly obeyed, but he was soon fired. After wandering for a few months, he received a message that his mother had died. After a long illness, he moved to Mníšek pod Brdy. Being popular among local inhabitants for performing music, he was quite happy there, but after some hesitation he accepted a schoolteacher position in Rožmitál pod Třemšínem.
The school prospered under his supervision, but he had constant conflicts with the local pastor and council. His frequent requests for funds for repairs of the school building were usually rejected. In 1796, he wrote his most famous work, Czech Christmas Mass "Hey, Master!" (named by him as Missa solemnis Festis Nativitatis D. J. Ch. accommodata in linguam bohemicum musicam), also as a consequence of a reconciliation with the local pastor. This work continues to be frequently performed at Christmas time in Bohemia.
An insufferable lack of money, the hostility of his superiors and total exhaustion led him to commit suicide at Voltuš near Rožmitál pod Třemšínem. On 8 April 1815, Ryba attended morning mass. Later, he was found in a dense forest with his throat cut with a razor. He had Essay on Peace of Soul by Seneca the Younger, his favourite author, with him. He was buried at a plague cemetery near Rožmitál pod Tremšínem.
His works mainly include many pastorellas and masses, but few compositions beyond the Czech Christmas Mass are performed regularly today.
Literature
Jiří Berkovec: Jakub Jan Ryba, Prague, 1995, ISBN 80-85787-97-0
Václav Spěváček: Jakub Jan Ryba, vychovatel našeho lidu [Jan Jakub Ryba, Educator of Our Nation], Prague, 1984
Jan Němeček: Jakub Jan Ryba: život a dílo [Jan Jakub Ryba, Life and Works], Prague, 1963
Jan Němeček: Školní deníky Jakuba Jana Ryby [School Diaries by Jakub Jan Ryba], Prague, 1957
Irena Janáčková: Jakub Jan Ryba o svém hudebním životě [Jakub Jan Ryba About His Life With Music], Prague, 1946. Translation of autobiography Mein musikalischer Lebenslauf (in German) from 1801.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 10 | 82.3th |
| Studio albums | 10 | 91.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -151 | 4.1th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (10 release groups · 10 studio albums)
Albums · 10
1966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 43:00
A1Czech Christmas Mass: Kyrie5:28A2Czech Christmas Mass: Gloria5:09A3Czech Christmas Mass: Graduale3:17A4Czech Christmas Mass: Credo5:57B1Czech Christmas Mass: Offertorium7:04B2aCzech Christmas Mass: Sanctus2:11B2bCzech Christmas Mass: Benedictus3:26B3aCzech Christmas Mass: Agnus3:14B3bCzech Christmas Mass: Communio3:01B4My lovely nightingale4:131988 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 36:24
1Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Kyrie4:592Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Gloria5:063Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Graduale3:104Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Credo5:225Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Offertorium6:446Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Sanctus1:577Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Benedictus3:328Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Agnus Dei2:529Böhmische Hirtenmesse: Schlusschor2:421990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:01:02
1Ejhle, opět obnovujeme narození památku / Lo, Here We Revive Again1:292Chvalozpěv při vánoční slavnostni narození (Pastýři, vstávejte) / Eulogy to Mark the Celebration of the Birth of Christ Our Lord (Wake up, shepherds!)6:413Housle, zněte / Play, Violin2:124Rajskou radost pociťuje / With Heavenly Joy Imbued2:165Co pastýři, copak to má znamenat? / What, Shepherds, Does This Augur3:176O dítěti přemilém / News of the Sweetest Child4:437Usni, můj Ježíšku / Sleep, My Sweet Baby Jesus3:248Chvalozpěv k slavnostni narození (Copak je to za světlo tam?) / Eulogy on the Feast of the Birth of Christ (What is that light?)7:019Milí synáčkové / Sweet Children3:3110Libou písničku / A Charming Little Song2:5811Rozmilý slavíčku / Nightingale, Lovely Bird4:5712S pastýři budu muzikovat / Music with Shepherds I Shall Make2:4013Spi, spi, neviňátko / Sleep, Sleep, Innocent Child4:0914Ó jak plesá ve mně / O How Excaltant2:1215Vítám tě, můj rozmilý Ježíšku / Welcome, My Sweetest Jesus Child3:4416Pastorella in D (Na tři krále) / Pastorella in D (For Epiphany)5:48Czech Christmas Mass / Missa Pastoralis
1998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 54:41
1Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Kyrie5:552Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Gloria5:403Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Graduale3:394Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Credo6:125Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Offertorium7:416Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Sanctus2:027Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Benedictus3:538Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Agnus Dei3:259Czech Christmas Mass "Hej, mistře!": Závěr (Final Chorus)2:4610Missa Pastoralis: Kyrie2:1011Missa Pastoralis: Gloria0:5512Missa Pastoralis: Graduale1:2213Missa Pastoralis: Credo1:0714Missa Pastoralis: Offertorium2:3615Missa Pastoralis: Sanctus0:5316Missa Pastoralis: Benedictus1:5317Missa Pastoralis: Agnus Dei1:3918Missa Pastoralis: Dona Nobis0:531999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 50:01
1Rozmilý slavíčku4:292Libou písničku3:093Jak milé, rozkošné2:524Česká mše vánoční: I. Kyrie5:115Česká mše vánoční: II. Gloria5:276Česká mše vánoční: III. Graduale3:407Česká mše vánoční: IV. Credo5:578Česká mše vánoční: V. Offertorium7:389Česká mše vánoční: VI. Sanctus1:5910Česká mše vánoční: VII. Benedictus4:0311Česká mše vánoční: VIII. Agnus Dei3:0212Česká mše vánoční: IX. Finale2:342009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 55:21
1Česká mše vánoční: Kyrie5:322Česká mše vánoční: Gloria5:293Česká mše vánoční: Graduale3:214Česká mše vánoční: Credo6:005Česká mše vánoční: Offertorium7:106Česká mše vánoční: Sanctus2:007Česká mše vánoční: Benedictus3:388Česká mše vánoční: Agnus Dei3:249Česká mše vánoční: Communio2:4510Slyšte, slyšte / Gloria / V půlnoční hodinu2:3411Pochválen buď / Vondráši, Matóši / Hle, hle2:0712Štěstí, zdraví / Hajej, nynej / Jak jsi krásné3:3813Sem pojďte / K jesličkám pastýři / Já malý přicházím4:3814Hej, Bárto s Ondráškem / Splnilo se písmo / Děťátko se narodilo3:052009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 50:01
1Rozmily Slavicku4:292Libou Pisnicku3:093Jak Mile Rozkosne2:524Ceska Mse Vanocni: Kyrie5:115Ceska Mse Vanocni: Gloria5:276Ceska Mse Vanocni: Graduale3:407Ceska Mse Vanocni: Credo5:578Ceska Mse Vanocni: Offertorium7:389Ceska Mse Vanocni: Sanctus1:5910Ceska Mse Vanocni: Benedictus4:0311Ceska Mse Vanocni: Agnus Dei3:0212Ceska Mse Vanocni: Communio2:342010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 50:38
1Česká mše vánoční: Kyrie5:192Česká mše vánoční: Gloria5:083Česká mše vánoční: Graduale3:264Česká mše vánoční: Credo5:445Česká mše vánoční: Offertorium6:516Česká mše vánoční: Sanctus1:577Česká mše vánoční: Benedictus3:258Česká mše vánoční: Agnus2:549Česká mše vánoční: Communio2:4010Koledy13:142011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:11:14
1Kyrie (Hej, Mistře / Hey, Master)4:202Gloria (Sláva Budiž Bohu Velikému / Glory Be To The Great Lord)4:483Graduale (Vzhůru, Bratři / Wake Up, Brothers)3:024Credo (Pospíchejme K Betlému / Let Us Hurry To Bethlehem)5:245Offertorium (V Pokoře Poklekněme / Humbly Let Us Kneel)6:416Sanctus (Nebe Hlásej Svatý / The Heavens Proclaim “Holy!“)1:537Benedictus (Pane Země I Nebe / Lord Of Earth And Heaven)3:098Agnus Dei (Není Se Do Tvé Ochrany Poroučíme / Now To Your Protection We Commend Our Soul)2:569Communio (S Radostí, S Plesáním / With Joy, With Jubilation)2:2410I. Pastorale. Presto3:2511II. Larghetto4:5012III. Minuetto. Trio1:5813IV. Presto3:0714Milí Synáčkové / Dear Children (Pastorella)2:4615I. Tempo Giusto5:5616II. Andante Poco Allegro2:4117III. Menuetto2:2718IV. Allegro Poco Presto3:0619Chvalozpěv Při Vánoční Slavnosti Narození Krista Pána „Hej, Hej, Bratři“ / Song Of Praise For The Festival Of The Birth Of Christ “Hey, Hey Brothers“6:212016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 58:40
1I. Introduzione5:122II. Stabat Mater dolorosa6:073III. Quis est homo4:094IV. Quis non posset4:235V. Pro peccatis suae gentis3:426VI. Eja Mater6:187VII. Fac, ut ardeat5:108VIII. Sancta Mater8:269IX. Fac me vere1:1210X. Virgo virginum3:0511XI. Fac me plagis1:1012XII. Christe cum sit hinc exire3:0913XIII. Quando corpus6:37
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Jakub Jan Ryba head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 10 | 82.3th |
| Studio albums | 10 | 91.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -151 | 4.1th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JJryba.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/37f4eb79-0aaf-4ccc-9b72-c99e3a3ef5c6discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/37f4eb79-0aaf-4ccc-9b72-c99e3a3ef5c6core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q727629genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q727629seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakub_Jan_Rybabiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakub_Jan_Ryba
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: no portrait · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q727629 · MusicBrainz: 37f4eb79-0aaf-4ccc-9b72-c99e3a3ef5c6
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