Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Sacred music

Compose Date

:

Apr 1815

Average_duration

:

6:39

Franz Schubert's Stabat Mater in G minor, D. 175, is a choral work composed in 1815 when Schubert was just 18 years old. The piece was premiered in Vienna in 1832, 11 years after Schubert's death. The Stabat Mater is divided into ten movements, each of which sets a different section of the Latin hymn. The first movement, "Stabat Mater dolorosa," begins with a somber and mournful choral introduction, which is followed by a solo soprano singing the first verse of the hymn. The second movement, "Cujus animam gementem," features a solo tenor accompanied by the choir. The third movement, "Quis est homo," is a duet for soprano and alto, while the fourth movement, "Quis non posset," is a solo for bass. The fifth movement, "Pro peccatis suae gentis," is a quartet for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, and the sixth movement, "Vidit suum dulcem natum," is a solo for alto. The seventh movement, "Eja Mater fons amoris," is a duet for soprano and tenor, while the eighth movement, "Fac ut ardeat cor meum," is a solo for tenor. The ninth movement, "Sancta Mater, istud agas," is a quartet for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, and the final movement, "Fac ut portem Christi mortem," is a choral fugue. The Stabat Mater is characterized by Schubert's use of rich harmonies and expressive melodies, which convey the emotional depth of the text. The piece is also notable for its use of solo voices and small ensembles, which provide contrast to the full choir. Overall, the Stabat Mater is a powerful and moving work that showcases Schubert's early mastery of choral composition.

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