The Masterworks Chorus at St. Paul's have been rehearsing Beethoven's Missa Solemnis since mid-March. This significant date was chosen as a two hundred year anniversary since the work first debuted in April 1824. Interestingly, Missa Solemnis was debuted just a month before his immortal Ninth Symphony, legendary back-to-back musical debuts!
This sacred orchestral choral music is considered to be among the most difficult pieces of choral music ever composed, and after months of practicing Misa Solemnis, I now understand why Beethoven was considered to be a visionary musical madman decades ahead of his time. Fugues and double fugues abound in this work, so if you find yourself within a 50 mile radius of Westfield, NJ, I gently urge you to consider tasting the celestial in orchestral musical form. We'll be performing 'Missa Solemnis' at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Westfield, NJ this Sunday, May 19 at 5PM. This is a small, intimate venue and tickets are expected to sell out. I'm providing a video of last year's performance in which we sang Dvořák's Stabat Mater.
This sacred orchestral choral music is considered to be among the most difficult pieces of choral music ever composed, and after months of practicing Misa Solemnis, I now understand why Beethoven was considered to be a visionary musical madman decades ahead of his time. Fugues and double fugues abound in this work, so if you find yourself within a 50 mile radius of Westfield, NJ, I gently urge you to consider tasting the celestial in orchestral musical form. We'll be performing 'Missa Solemnis' at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Westfield, NJ this Sunday, May 19 at 5PM. This is a small, intimate venue and tickets are expected to sell out. I'm providing a video of last year's performance in which we sang Dvořák's Stabat Mater.
Antonín Dvořák's Stabat Mater is a sacred choral work based on the medieval Latin poem Stabat Mater Dolorosa (translated as: the grieving mother stood weeping), which meditates on the profound sorrow of Mary, the mother of Jesus, during his crucifixion. Composed between 1876 and 1877, I consider "Stabat Mater" to be an absolute masterpiece, characterized by its rich harmonies, lyrical melodies, and deeply emotive expression. Next to Mozart's Requiem and some of Bach Motets, Stabat Mater was a peak singing experience for me.
Dvořák's Stabat Mater captures the profound grief and spiritual contemplation reflected in the text. Dvořák's lush orchestration, emotional dynamics and intricate choral writing evokes a sublime sense of solemnity, profound anguish, and spiritual reverence, as well as flashing moments of inspired hope.
During the composition of the "Stabat Mater," Dvořák experienced both personal and professional challenges. He was grieving the loss of his infant daughter Josefa, who died tragically during the work's composition, adding a deeply personal dimension to his exploration of maternal sorrow in the piece. Additionally, Dvořák faced struggles in his career, including financial difficulties and the pressure to establish himself as a respected composer on the international stage.
Despite these challenges, Dvořák directed his heavily charged emotions and artistic vision into the Stabat Mater, creating an awe-inspiring work that reflects both the universal themes of suffering and redemption and the composer's own deeply felt emotions and spiritual beliefs. Through its beauty and emotional depth, Dvořák's Stabat Mater continues to resonate with audiences as a testament to the power of music to convey the depths of human experience.
Dvořák's Stabat Mater captures the profound grief and spiritual contemplation reflected in the text. Dvořák's lush orchestration, emotional dynamics and intricate choral writing evokes a sublime sense of solemnity, profound anguish, and spiritual reverence, as well as flashing moments of inspired hope.
During the composition of the "Stabat Mater," Dvořák experienced both personal and professional challenges. He was grieving the loss of his infant daughter Josefa, who died tragically during the work's composition, adding a deeply personal dimension to his exploration of maternal sorrow in the piece. Additionally, Dvořák faced struggles in his career, including financial difficulties and the pressure to establish himself as a respected composer on the international stage.
Despite these challenges, Dvořák directed his heavily charged emotions and artistic vision into the Stabat Mater, creating an awe-inspiring work that reflects both the universal themes of suffering and redemption and the composer's own deeply felt emotions and spiritual beliefs. Through its beauty and emotional depth, Dvořák's Stabat Mater continues to resonate with audiences as a testament to the power of music to convey the depths of human experience.
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