Stabat Mater in F minor (Schubert)

Stabat Mater in F minor, D 383, is a musical setting of the Stabat Mater sequence, composed by Franz Schubert in 1816.[1] It is scored for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, SATB choir, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 2 french horns, 3 trombones, violin I and II, viola, cello and double bass.

Portrait of Franz Schubert by Franz Eybl (1827)

Rather than setting the Latin sequence of the Stabat Mater, Schubert used a German paraphrase by F. G. Klopstock, Jesus Christus schwebt am Kreuze.[2] The work is sometimes referred to as the Deutsches Stabat Mater, and was written for the composer's brother Ferdinand.[3]

Schubert had written a shorter setting of the Latin Stabat Mater in 1815, Stabat Mater in G minor, D 175, a single-movement piece of approximately five minutes' duration, using only four verses of the twenty stanzas of the sequence.[2]

Structure

This setting is essentially a short oratorio with arias, duets, trios and chorus work.[2] The work is divided into twelve movements. Performances require 30–40 minutes.

  1. "Jesus Christus schwebt am Kreuze" Largo, F minor, common time; choir
  2. "Bei des Mittlers Kreuze standen" B-flat minor, 3/8; soprano
  3. "Liebend neiget er sein Antlitz" Andante, E-flat major, cut common time; choir
    The recurring theme in the original version is based on the Kaiser Hymn. Schubert revised this later, believing it to be inappropriate.[4]
    It is unknown if the allusion to the hymn was a patriotic gesture, or an homage to Haydn.
  4. "Engel freuten sich der Wonne" Allegretto, B-flat major, 2/4; soprano and tenor duet
  5. "Wer wird Zähren" Larghetto, G minor ending in G major, 3/4; chorus (divisi)
  6. "Ach, was hätten wir empfunden" Adagio, C minor, common time; tenor
  7. "Erben sollen sie am Throne" C major, common time; chorus
    Schubert authorised cuts in this movement from bars 19–46, and bars 65–71.[4]
  8. "Sohn des Vaters, aber leiden" Andantino, G major, 3/8; bass
  9. "O du herrlicher Vollender" Maestoso, E major, cut common time; chorus
  10. "Erdenfreuden und ihr Elend" Allegretto moderato, A major, common time; trio
    — "Möcht ich wie auf Adlers Flügeln"... Più mosso, A minor, common time
  11. "Daß dereinst wir, wenn im Tode" Andante sostenuto, F major, 3/4; trio and choir
  12. "Amen" Allegro maestoso, F major, cut common time; chorus
    Schubert authorised a cut in this movement from bars 101-115.[4]

References
  1. Black, Leo (2003). Franz Schubert: Music and Belief. p. 27.
  2. Newbould, Brian (1999). Schubert: The Music and the Man. p. 139.
  3. Howie, Crawford (2008). "Small is beautiful: Schubert's smaller sacred works". In Reul, Barbara M.; Bodley, Lorraine Byrne (eds.). The Unknown Schubert. p. 60.
  4. Gibson, Michael. "Editor's notes, Stabat Mater (D383)" (PDF).

Further reading
  • "Music of Spirit and Hope". Retrieved 15 March 2013. Programme notes for a concert by Cambridge choir "The Spectrum Singers", containing the text and English translation of Klopstock's Jesus Christus schwebt am Kreuze.
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