Stabat Mater in F minor
Stabat Mater in F minor, D 383, is a musical setting of the Stabat Mater sequence, composed by Franz Schubert in 1816.[1] It is scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, SATB choir, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 2 french horns, 3 trombones, violin I and II, viola, cello and double bass.
Rather than setting the Latin sequence of the Stabat Mater, Schubert used a German paraphrase by F. G. Klopstock, Jesus Christus schwebt am Kreuze.[2] The work is sometimes referred to as the Deutsches Stabat Mater, and was written for the composer's brother Ferdinand.[3]
Schubert had written a shorter setting of the Latin Stabat Mater in 1815, Stabat Mater in G minor, D 175, a single-movement piece of approximately five minutes' duration, using only four verses of the twenty stanzas of the sequence.[2]
Structure
This setting is essentially a short oratorio with arias, duets, trios and chorus work.[2] The work is divided into twelve movements. Performances require 30–40 minutes.
- "Jesus Christus schwebt am Kreuze" Largo, F minor, common time; choir
- "Bei des Mittlers Kreuze standen" B-flat minor, 3/8; soprano
- "Liebend neiget er sein Antlitz" Andante, C minor, cut common time; choir
- The recurring theme in the original version is based on the Kaiser Hymn. Schubert revised this later, believing it to be inappropriate.[4]
- It is unknown if the allusion to the hymn was a patriotic gesture, or an homage to Haydn.
- "Engel freuten sich der Wonne" Allegretto, G minor, 2/4; soprano and tenor duet
- "Wer wird Zähren" Larghetto, G minor, 3/4; chorus (divisi)
- "Ach, was hätten wir empfunden" Adagio, C minor, common time; tenor
- "Erben sollen sie am Throne" C major, common time; chorus
- Schubert authorised cuts in this movement from bars 19–46, and bars 65–71.[4]
- "Sohn des Vaters, aber leiden" Andantino, G major, 3/8; bass
- "O du herrlicher Vollender" Maestoso, E major, cut common time; chorus
- "Erdenfreuden und ihr Elend" Allegretto moderato, A major, common time; trio
- — "Möcht ich wie auf Adlers Flügeln"... Più mosso, C major, common time
- "Daß dereinst wir, wenn im Tode" Andante sostenuto, F major, 3/4; trio and choir
- "Amen" Allegro maestoso, F major, cut common time; chorus
- Schubert authorised a cut in this movement from bars 101-115.[4]
References
- ↑ Black, Leo (2003). Franz Schubert: Music and Belief. p. 27.
- 1 2 3 Newbould, Brian (1999). Schubert: The Music and the Man. p. 139.
- ↑ Howie, Crawford (2008). "Small is beautiful: Schubert's smaller sacred works". In Reul, Barbara M.; Bodley, Lorraine Byrne. The Unknown Schubert. p. 60.
- 1 2 3 Gibson, Michael. "Editor's notes, Stabat Mater (D383)" (PDF).
Further reading
- "Music of Spirit and Hope". Retrieved 15 March 2013. Programme notes for a concert by Cambridge choir "The Spectrum Singers", containing the text and English translation of Klopstock's Jesus Christus schwebt am Kreuze.
External links
- Stabat Mater, D.383: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Free scores of Stabat Mater, D. 383 in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)