Concert of Remembrance - Stabat Mater 2024

Join us for a Concert of Remembrance from four local groups including the Weald of Kent School, Vox Anima, St Cecilia Wind Symphony and the 1839 Consort.

In Paradisum -Ēriks Ešenvalds

In Paradisum is based on the Requiem Mass antiphon sung as Christ’s body is taken for burial. The homophonic texture of the chorus is evocatively accompanied by the cello, which “sings” a series of exquisite descants (to represent the softly-beating wings of ascending angels) that gently fade to suggest eternal rest in paradise.

Lux -Dan Forrest

Dan Forrest’s five-movement composition explores the multiple facets of Lux (Latin for “light”) using the imagery of the sun moving from dawn to dusk as a metaphor for Christ’s unconditional love that lights our lives. Textually inspired by a diverse range of styles (ranging from liturgical hymn to modern love poetry) and musically influenced by a variety of forms (from ancient chant to modern minimalist composers), Lux traces a journey through time, from ancient prophecy to the modern day and back again.

Stabat Mater -Kim André Arnesen (arr Jonathan Crowhurst)

Considered one of the seven greatest Latin compositions of all time, The Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Christian hymn to the Virgin Mary. It portrays her suffering at the crucifixion of her son, Jesus Christ. The title comes from its first line, "Stabat Mater dolorosa", "the sorrowful mother was standing". Many composers have set the original Latin text to music, including Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn, Schubert, and Verdi. Kim André Arnesen’s Stabat Mater breathes new life into the hymn with Arnesen’s characteristic rich harmonies and memorable melodic lines, which combine to create a powerful and emotional choral work. This performance is the premiere of Jonathan Crowhurst’s arrangement for wind orchestra.

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