Seven Last Words: SATB: Vocal Score

SKU: CA.4009509

ISBN 9790007061463. Language: Latin/English.

Unlike the well-known settings of the Seven Last Words by Schutz or Haydn, in his opulently scored composition Franck provides commentary to the words of Jesus with excerpts from the Old and New Testaments as well as from portions of the Stabat Mater. In his transposition of the Latin text into music Franck reveals a rich palette of compositional parameters: different-sized ensembles, exciting orchestration, formal variety and sophisticated harmony. Laments, simple passages for the choir in unison, passages with great drama, melodic shapes filled with sweetness convey to the listener a multi-layered impression of a composition stamped by a strongly personal will to expression. Wurttembergische Blatter fur Kirchenmusik 1/1991. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.4009500.

SKU: MN.50-3038

UPC: 688670530388. Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-5.

From Seven Last Words.

SKU: CA.5199203

ISBN 9790007186661. German. Text: van Swieten, Gottfried.

Joseph Haydn's oratorio Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze is probably one of the most frequently performed settings of music for Good Friday. Haydn set these Seven Words in a dramatic, extremely gripping emotional style which is utterly compelling. Originally the work was conceived as a purely instrumental composition - as meditative music in seven slow movements with an introduction and concluding movement (Il Terremoto - the earthquake) for a Passiontide church service. From the outset, Haydn had composed the themes of the movements with a vocal spirit in mind, so when he heard a vocal arrangement of his work in 1794 in Passau with a German singing text - an obvious idea - it inspired him to write his own vocal version. The first performance took place in 1796 in Vienna. With the flourishing of choral societies in the 19th century, this vocal version of the Seven Words became one of the most frequently-performed Passion music settings of all. The critical Urtext edition of the work now published offers a revised musical text reflecting current scholarly standards.