Krzysztof Penderecki was born in Debica, Poland in 1933. He passed away in Kraków in 2020. He is a composer whose merits are being judged rather variably. His “Stabat Mater for three mixed a cappella choruses” is regarded as the beginning of a period in which Penderecki abandons the avant-garde movement and attempts to develop a certain link between the modern and the traditional: the twelve note thinking, new sonoristic techniques and at the same time, polyphony which dates back to the Renaissance. He wished to refer to the great tradition of sacred music: Gregorian chant, Palestrina’s music and the works of Bach. Yet, he introduces a new perspective in sacred music: the central point of reference is no longer God, but man. It is his individual experiences and emotions that cause the dramatic tension. The Stabat Mater was some years later used by him as part of a Lukas Passion.
About the Stabat Mater
Date
1962
Performers
3 mixed Choirs
Length
8.31 minutes
Particulars
The Stabat Mater is based on six selected stanzas. The melodic line of the central theme hovers around the main note in a typically slow manner. The sequence develops in several phases reaching its climax in the dramatic, repeated plaintive cry "Christe". Afterwards, the early prayerful, litany-like motifs return and lead to the closure on the words "Paradisi gloria" with a powerful, clear sound of the D major triad, which carries a symbolic message of hope.
Textual variations
Only the stanzas 1, 5, 9, 10, 19 and 20 of the "Vatican"-version are used.
Colour bar
Information about the recording
CD1:
Finlandia 4509-98999-2, Penderecki, Complete sacred works for chorus a cappella
More info:
Recorded at the Olari Church, Espoo, Finland, in 1993. I bought this CD in a record shop in the Netherlands, 1997
Choir:
Tapiola Chamber Choir
Conductor:
Juha Kuivanen
Other works:
Miserere In pulverem mortis Sicut locutus est Agnus Dei Song of Cherubim Veni creator Benedicamus Domino Benedictus
Code:
1997 PEN-01
CD2:
Stabat Mater 2007 A Capella
More info:
This CD is produced by the Stabat Mater Foundation. It is a recording of a concert performed on March 25, 2007 in the St.Petrus church at Oirschot.
Choir:
Dutch Chamber Choir
Conductor:
Klaas Stok
Other works:
Franz Wüllner, Stabat Mater William Cornysh, Stabat Mater Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Stabat Mater Alphons Diepenbrock, Stabat Mater
