Composer

:

Giovanni Felice Sances

Genre

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Choral

Style

:

Motet

Giovanni Felice Sances was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, born in Rome in 1600. He was a prolific composer of sacred music, and his works were widely performed throughout Europe during his lifetime. One of his most famous compositions is the "Stabat Mater Dolorosa," a sacred vocal work that was first performed in the mid-17th century. The "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" is a musical setting of the Latin hymn of the same name, which describes the sorrow of the Virgin Mary as she stands at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus. Sances' composition is divided into ten movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of Mary's grief and suffering. The first movement, "Stabat Mater Dolorosa," sets the tone for the entire work with its mournful melody and somber harmonies. The second movement, "Cuius animam gementem," is a duet for two sopranos that expresses Mary's anguish as she watches her son die. The third movement, "O quam tristis et afflicta," is a solo for alto that laments the suffering of both Mary and Jesus. The fourth movement, "Quae moerebat et dolebat," is a duet for soprano and alto that describes Mary's sorrow as she witnesses the agony of her son. The fifth movement, "Quis est homo qui non fleret," is a solo for tenor that asks who among us could witness such suffering without shedding tears. The sixth movement, "Vidit suum dulcem natum," is a duet for soprano and alto that describes Mary's heartbreak as she sees her beloved son die. The seventh movement, "Eia Mater, fons amoris," is a solo for bass that implores Mary to console us in our grief. The eighth movement, "Sancta Mater, istud agas," is a duet for soprano and alto that asks Mary to intercede for us with her son. The ninth movement, "Fac ut ardeat cor meum," is a solo for tenor that asks God to inflame our hearts with love for him. The final movement, "Christe, cum sit hinc exire," is a duet for soprano and alto that expresses the hope and faith that Mary and all believers have in the resurrection of Jesus. Overall, Sances' "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" is a powerful and moving work that captures the depth of Mary's sorrow and the hope that all Christians have in the resurrection of Jesus. Its haunting melodies and rich harmonies have made it a beloved piece of sacred music that continues to be performed and appreciated today.

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