Z. RANDALL STROOPE, composer & conductor; SSATBB, mezzo/tenor soloists, and anvil; publisher information below; Duration 4.5 minutes.
COMPOSER'S NOTES (www.zrstroope.com)
CHRISTI MUTTER ("Stabat Mater") describes the vividness, unmatched tenderness, & profound sadness of a mother watching her son die. This work is a study of human emotions - the intent is to sonically paint three "characters" in this epic and profoundly sad event. The first is the MARY - "Christi Mutter" - a mother standing by a cross and the sound of a hammer and nail shattering the texture. The second is the antagonistic crowd - fanatically zealous and sharply split in opinion (not unlike today), represented by frenetic, almost chaotic rhythmic figures. This dissolves into the third where two people - a woman from the naysaying crowd, and soldier - who is driving the nails, both see the mother's face as she looks at her dying son. They identify with her as a parent and a fellow human being, and their "heart" changes, and say, "O Virgin of virgins, look at me in love, so that I might feel your pain."
Scores in E-MUSIC - go to www.zrstroope.com, look under SATB chorus, and follow ordering info.
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