Stabat Mater and Sacred Songs

On Saturday, March 5th at 7:00pm, a talented group of Island artists will perform Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater at St. John Vianney Church on Vashon.  

This work was composed by Pergolesi in 1736, during the last days of his short, 26 year-old life, and is an incredibly beautiful setting of the Stabat Mater poem written in the 13th century, attributed to Jacopo da Todi (ca. 1230-1306). The Stabat Mater hymn, one of the most powerful and immediate of extant medieval poems, meditates on the suffering of Mary, Jesus Christ’s mother, during Jesus’ crucifixion.
 
Pergolesi scored the Stabat Mater for soprano and alto soloists, two violins, viola and organ.  In this performance, vocal soloists include Jennifer Krikawa, Rebekah Kuzma, Holly Boaz and Julia Benzinger. Strings will be performed by Karin Choo, Dan Brandt, Danielle McCutcheon, and on organ, Charles Lovekin. Father Marc Powell, pastor of St. John Vianney, will read an English translation of the stanzas between each of the 12 movements.

“This setting of the Stabat Mater poem is so touching and hauntingly beautiful,“ says Jennifer Krikawa, one of the vocal soloists, “and the style is one that we are not used to hearing, because it is so operatic. The emotion of the words is written into the music. In the Baroque style, composers used dissonance, descriptive repetition, ornamentation and straight tone as tools to create sound descriptions of the story. They were able to juxtapose simple harmonies with dissonances to create tension, longing, and tranquility.  It’s very exciting that we will be able to perform this piece as a chamber ensemble.”

The Stabat Mater in 12 movements will be preceded by several other sacred songs with organ.  The organists include Charles Lovekin as well as Kevin Pottinger and Michelle Casad. These sacred songs will be focused on Mary as well, and will include compositions by Domenico Scarlatti, Francesco Durante, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ottorino Respighi and Guilio Caccini.  “Mary brought out the best of these genius composers because of her beauty and loving nature that they sought to represent in their songs.” says Krikawa.

Holly Boaz will open the concert with Medieval plainchant by Saint Hildegard Von Bingen (1098 - 1179).  She is the first female composer whose works survive today, and is recognized for contributions to science, medicine, poetry, philosophy, art, music and mysticism.  “What is fascinating about Hildegard’s compositions is that they were inspired by her religious visions.” says Holly Boaz.  “This remarkable woman began having visions at only 3 years of age. Over her long lifetime, she wrote three books describing these visions through art, poetry, and music.  The chant I will present is from Scivias, the first of these books.”

“There is an enormous library of sacred works and we don’t often get to hear these special small ensemble  works. We want to present these works to the community as an open concert, for everyone to enjoy their intrinsic beauty, and with this concert we hope to celebrate Mary, her spirit of both sorrow and hope.” says Krikawa.

St. John Vianney is located at 16100 115th Ave SW on Vashon. There will be a suggested donation of $15 collected at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Stabat Mater and Sacred Songs
Saturday, March 7 at 7:00pm
St. John Vianney Church
Suggested donation: $15 --All are welcome