Karl Jenkins: Stabat Mater (arr. John Gibbons)

Dekanatschor Donnersberg
Nordwestpfälzische Kantorei
Members of Gesangvereinskapelle Rockenhausen
Members of Kammerphilharmonie Saar
Conductor: Diethelm Schlegel

The "Stabat Mater" is a sequence and hymn rooted in Catholic liturgy, traditionally associated with the feast of "Our Lady of Sorrows" celebrated on 15 September each year. Countless composers across the centuries have set this text to music - among them Karl Jenkins, the Welsh composer who gained worldwide recognition through "Adiemus".

What sets his contemporary work apart is the fusion of ethnic sounds from diverse cultural traditions with Jenkins' distinctive melodic and rhythmic language. Premiered in 2008, it draws not only on the Latin "Stabat Mater" but also on modern and historical poetry in Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, Aramaic, and English.

In John Gibbons' reduced arrangement, ethnic instruments join the choir and classical orchestra: duduk, darbuka, and riqq. The internationally acclaimed Lebanese singer Fadia Tomb El-Hage performs as soloist. The concert opens with short traditional melodies that introduce, through solo performance, the sonic worlds of Armenian and Byzantine music.