Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1795 - 1796

Average_duration

:

60:30

Movement_count

:

14

Movement ....

Franz Joseph Haydn's "Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, H. 20/2" is a musical composition that was first performed on Good Friday in 1787. The piece is a set of seven instrumental movements, each representing one of the last sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross. The work was commissioned by the Cathedral of Cádiz in Spain, and Haydn was asked to create a piece that would be performed during the Good Friday service. The composition is scored for string quartet, with an optional bass part that can be added to the final movement. The movements are played without pause, and each one is preceded by a spoken meditation on the corresponding saying of Christ. The meditations were written by the Bishop of Cádiz, and Haydn incorporated them into the score of the piece. The first movement, "Introduzione," sets the tone for the work with a slow, mournful melody played by the strings. The second movement, "Sonata I," is more lively and features a theme that is passed between the instruments. The third movement, "Sonata II," is slower and more contemplative, with a melody that is played by the first violin. The fourth movement, "Sonata III," is one of the most famous of the piece. It is a slow, mournful melody that is played by the strings in unison. The fifth movement, "Sonata IV," is more lively and features a theme that is played by the first violin. The sixth movement, "Sonata V," is slower and more contemplative, with a melody that is played by the cello. The final movement, "Il Terremoto" (The Earthquake), is the most dramatic of the piece. It begins with a slow, mournful melody that is played by the strings, but then suddenly shifts to a fast, frenzied section that represents the earthquake that occurred after Christ's death. The optional bass part can be added to this movement to give it more depth and power. Overall, "Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze, H. 20/2" is a powerful and emotional work that captures the solemnity and drama of the Good Friday service. Haydn's use of the string quartet creates a sense of intimacy and introspection, while the spoken meditations add a layer of spiritual depth to the piece.

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