Tommaso Traetta (1727 – 1779) was born in Bitonto, Italy. He is predominantly known for his opera’s. He worked in Vienna, Mannheim, St.Petersburg and Venice. In his sacred works the influence of his teacher Durante can be seen. He combines contrapuntal skill with rich chromatics in a search for the expression of pain. He wrote several Stabat Mater compositions, two are described below. The 19th century composer Camillo de Nardis used themes from one of his Stabat Maters for an instrumental composition (see de Nardis).
About the Stabat Mater
Date
1748
Performers
Soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed choir and string orchestra (original: S+A, two voices)
Length
26.28 minutes
Particulars
The work is divided into seven sections, all in minor keys. The composer clearly was looking for musical forms to express pain and sorrow. The fifth section and the final "Amen" are in strict fugal style.
Textual variations
The "Analecta"-version of the text is used, but with following changes: - Stanza 4, line 2: not "Et tremebat cum videbat" but "Pia Mater, dum videbat" - Stanza 5, line 2: not "Christi Matrem" but "Matrem Christi" - Stanza 6, line 2: not "Piam Matrem" but "Christi Matrem" - Stanza 14, line 2: not "Te libenter sociare" but "Et me tibi sociare" - Stanza 16, line 2: not "Passionis eius sortem" but "Passionis fac consortem"
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About the Stabat Mater
Date
ca. 1750
Performers
Soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed choir and orchestra
Length
35.02 minutes
Particulars
The Stabat Mater in e is divided into nine sections. Traetta writes in an operatic style. Especially the soprano solo is a veritable aria.
Textual variations
The "Analecta"-version of the text is used, but with identical changes as the one above.:
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Information about the recording
CD1:
Bongiovanni GB 2127-2: Tommaso Traetta
More info:
Dedicated to sacred works of Traetta. Recorded at the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, in April 1992. I bought this CD on the Internet, CDNow, 1997
Orchestra:
Ensemble Giovanile Ambrosiano
Choir:
Coro Polifonico Farnesiano di Piacenza
Conductor:
Italo lo Vetere
Soloists:
Svetla Krasteva, soprano Ilia Aramayo Sandivari, mezzo-soprano Antonio de Lucia, tenor Robert Gierlach, bass
Other works:
Ouverture in Re Maggiore Litanie a quattro voci concertate con instrumenti
Code:
1997 TRA-01
CD2:
This is a CD-R with a recording of a radio concert.
More info:
The music was performed in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, in May 2004. I received it from Mr.H.Spelt.
Orchestra:
Orkest van de Nederlandse Bachvereniging
Choir:
Koor van de Nederlandse Bachvereniging
Conductor:
Johannes Leertouwer
Soloists:
Anke Herrmann, soprano Pascal Bertin, countertenor Robert Getchell, tenor Marc Pantus, bass
