Adam Michna z Otradovic

In the 1620s the literary fraternity in the town was restored by the highest Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom of Bohemia Vilém Slavata and that act, together with the activities of the Jesuit College, founded in 1594, contributed greatly to the development of cultural life in the town.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the Order of Jesuits was a great influence on musical life in the Czech lands.

He became a member of the Literary Society and the organist and choir director in 1633 at the provost church in Jindřichův Hradec.

He helped to improve the musical life in the town, was a respected and wealthy citizen of Jindřichův Hradec and also the owner of the tap-room.

[3] Michna's sacred music (on liturgical texts, in Latin), is melodically rich, with polyphonic sound, in particular using brass instruments (trumpets, trombones), strings and organ.

His favourite themes can be described as the inner fight between good and evil in man, moving from lovely images of paradise to the terrible torments of hell, but with specific noble, philosophical insight (however, he sometimes used colloquial language too), enriched on occasion by modest humour, arising from a critical view of human society.