Pergolesi: Stabat Mater (Emma Kirkby, James Bowman)

Disclaimer: I do not own this!

The Stabat Mater, centuries old, is a Latin poem often set to music.

It is Pergolesi's Stabat Mater (1736), for soprano, alto, and orchestra, which is his best known sacred work. It was commissioned by the Confraternità dei Cavalieri di San Luigi di Palazzo (the monks of the brotherhood of San Luigi di Palazzo) as a replacement for the rather old-fashioned one by Alessandro Scarlatti for identical forces which had been performed each Good Friday in Naples. Whilst classical in scope, the opening section of the setting demonstrates Pergolesi's mastery of the Italian baroque 'durezze e ligature' style, characterized by numerous suspensions over a faster, conjunct bassline. The work remained popular, becoming the most frequently printed work of the 18th century, and being arranged by a number of other composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who used it as the basis for his psalm Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083.

Bach: Tilge, Höchster, Meine Sünden, BWV 1083
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJI1qGdbEg

Latin
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat filius.

English
In sorrow stood a mother
By the cross and wept
Whilst her son hung there.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pergolesi
• stabat
• mater
• emma
• kirkby
• james
• bowman

[BarrocoeBrahms]

this is the best Stabat Mater of Pergolesi!! GREAT PERFORMANCE!!

[lovellespice]

who knew a mother's suffering could be such great beauty

[arunachala1]

Emma Kirkby and James Bowman, such a beautiful performance! Thank you.

[elisepoetry1603]

Beautiful 

[bf2019]

Stood a Mother in Sorrow,

Beside the Cross, Wept

Whilst hung there, her Son.

[woodchuckmool]

miraculous stuff!! what a combo

[yrmplg]

The very proof of how the human voice could be a great musical instrument.....

Beautiful performance of two great musicians

Thank you so much for sharing it

[Nattyduck]

Thank you very much for sharing it with us! James Bowman is my favourite countertenor ... he is absolutely perfect and divine... This year is G.B. Pergolesi's 300 anniversary, so because of this occasion there will be a concert in St. Petersburg's Philarmonia tomorrow where Stabat Mater will be performed. I've never seen the live performance of this masterpiece and I'm looking forward to it very much!

[alconcerto]

This what makes your soul grow.

[nunolamas1]

celestial voices of Emma Kirkby and James Bowman!! very very good!!

Thanks a lot!