STABAT MATER (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) op.521 (May 2001)

Commissioned by: Dorset Summer Music to celebrate their 40th anniversary
Instrumentation:

Principals: Soprano (Mary), tenor (Jesus the man), boy treble (Jesus as a boy), speakers:Satan, Prophet,Angel, Simeon, Elder; SATB chorus;  2.2.2.0. 2.2.2.0 timp. perc. pno/cel, harp, organ, strings

[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Texts adapted from biblical and other sources by the composer
Duration: 50 mins
First Performance: Patricia Rozario (soprano), Neil Jenkins (speaker, Christ), William Clements, (speaker, Satan), treble (the boy Jesus), 4 other speakers: (Prophet, Angel, Simeon, Elder) Winchester Cathedral Choir and The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Hill in Sherborne Abbey, Dorset, May 11th 2002
Piano / Vocal score for sale
Full score for hire
Orchestral parts for hire
CD of first performance for study reference only

Notes

This first unrevised version (1) had the solo singing role of Mary for high soprano, a solo treble role for Jesus the boy and spoken roles of Prophet, Satan, Jesus the man, Angel, Elder, and Simeon. However due to various interventions and conversations over the next 2-3 years Howard twice revised the work: Firstly by adding a sung part for tenor whilst retaing 4 speakers, SATB chorus and orchestra. A performance of this revised version (2), now withdrawn, was given by Carolyn Cook (soprano), Neil Jenkins (tenor), and the Lexden Choral Society and orchestra at the Garrison Church, Colchester, Sara Blake (conductor), 21st June 2003. Howard finally changed all the roles into singing parts and added a new final chorus to the text of 'Salve Regina' in September 2004, this being version 3, completed 20 April 2005. In 2006 a short Prelude was added for boys choir consisting of the opening of the original plainchant of Petrus of Compostela (d.1002?). Since the work had now changed considerably, to distinguish it from the many other Stabat Maters composed, at least 120, most of which are settings of the poem only, and to better express the nature of the work, in December 2006 the composer decided to change the title to 'The  Passion of Mary'.

 

Performances

18th May 2002

Patricia Rozario (high soprano), Neil Jenkins (speaker), William Clements, (speaker),Winchester Cathedral Choir and The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Hill, Sherborne Abbey, Dorset First performance

Related Works

---