| Haydn's Stabat Mater is a strangely neglected work on record,and this is all the more surprising when you consider that it is overflowing with some of his finest  and most heartfelt music. It's a tricky thing to compose a setting of the Feast of the Seven Sorrows without the very nature of the text turning it into a morbid excercise in the minor keys,but Haydn's irrepressible cheerfulness,tempered by innate taste and judgement lift up our hearts constantly while simultaneously transmitting all the intrinsic tragedy of this great latin hymn.The enormous variety of instrumental and vocal invention in this piece is quite remarkable,and it comes as no surprise to find out that it's huge popularity throughout Europe did much to establish the reputation of the great man that we so fondly remember and venerate to this day. |
I intend to buy a recording of this in the near future. Until then I am very happy to have found this here. This and the Nelson Mass are 2 of my favourite works by Haydn. Thank you.
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