Stabat Mater (Jenkins)

Updated on Oct 18, 2023

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Released 10 March 2008 Length 62:02 Release date 10 March 2008 Label EMI Classics		Recorded 2007 Artist Karl Jenkins Producer Karl Jenkins Genre Classical music

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Karl jenkins stabat mater cantus lacrimosus 01

Stabat Mater is a 2008 piece by the Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, and is based on the 13th-century Roman Catholic prayer Stabat Mater. Like much of Jenkins' earlier work, the piece incorporates both traditional Western music (orchestra and choir) with ethnic instruments and vocals - this time focusing on the Middle East. The recording features the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, along with two soloists, Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Jurgita Adamonyte, and English musician Belinda Sykes, who both sings and performs on the duduk, an Armenian reed instrument.

Background to the piece

Written in the 13th century, the title Stabat Mater is actually an abbreviation of the first line, Stabat Mater dolorosa ('The sorrowful Mother was standing'). The poem reflects on the suffering of Mary, mother of Jesus, at the time of the Crucifixion. Jenkins' setting of the 20-verse poem is actually one of the longest of hundreds of extant settings of the work.

Jenkins' adaptation

Jenkins' work extends across twelve movements, six of which use texts other than the original poem. They include a choral arrangement of the "Ave verum" Jenkins originally wrote for Bryn Terfel; a movement entitled "And The Mother Did Weep" which comprises a single line sung simultaneously in English, Latin, Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew; "Lament," written by Jenkins' wife Carol Barratt; and "Incantation," which is partly sung in early Arabic by Belinda Sykes.

Stabat Mater focuses on the suffering of Mary, but unlike earlier adaptations of the text, Jenkins incorporates the language of the period, with lines sung in Aramaic and early Arabic. The addition of Armenian instrument the duduk (or ney) heightens the Eastern atmosphere, and its deep double-reeded sound adds a richer, more resonant dimension to the work than can perhaps be achieved using Orchestra alone. Alongside the duduk, Jenkins features percussion from the Middle East, such as the darabuca, def, doholla, and riq.

Although it was not mentioned in the CD notes or concert programme, the first movement is actually an extended variation of a piece from his Adiemus, Cantus-Song of Tears, using the same format (with soft introduction preceding the main melody) and harmonisation. Also, the seventh movement, "And The Mother Did Weep", is an adaptation of the seventh movement of the first Adiemus-album which was called "Amaté Adea".

Première and recording

The piece received its world premiere in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Saturday 15 March 2008 and featured the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra, Jurgita Adamonyté, Belinda Sykes, and was conducted by Jenkins himself. The piece was recorded with the same personnel and the EMO Choir of Helsinki, and was released by EMI on Monday 10 March 2008.