About the composer
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi was born in Turku, Finland, in 1963. He graduated in English and
Linguistics from Helsinki University and works as a translator. He studied music theory
and choir conducting at the Sibelius Academy. As a composer he describes himself as an
eclectic traditionalist: using influences from all periods and styles, but in a
traditional approach. Being an active choir singer, most of his compositions are choral
works. His composition Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae won 3rd prize in the 1997
European composition Competition for cathedral choirs. Jaakko Mäntyjärvi lives in
Helsinki, Finland.
Extended information about him and about his works can be found at http://englishcentre.fi/mpoy/jm_sm.htm
About the Stabat Mater
| Date | 1998 |
| Performers | Mixed choir and string ensemble |
| Length | 10.59 minutes |
| Particulars | The composition is divided into four parts. As the poem reminded him of the Finnish epic Kalevala, traditional runo tunes were used by Mäntyjärvi as a basis in the first and last parts. In the second part, for women's choir, a solo violin is heard. The third part, for male choir a cappella, has strong reminiscences of plain chant, as does the final "Amen". Throughout, the work has a beautifully subtle, tragic atmosphere, ending in hopeful notes on "gratia" and "gloria". |
| Textual variations | The text of the "Vatican"-version is used, but the stanzas 13 to 18 are omitted. In its place stanza 19 of the "Analecta"-version has been added. |
| CD | CANCD 12000: Commissioned by Cantinovum |
| About this CD | This CD is a recording of a number of works, that have been
commissioned by Rita Varonen, conductor of the Cantinovum chamber choir of Jyväskylä,
Finland. As they have somewhat of a tradition to perform a new Stabat Mater each Easter,
the CD contains no less than three Stabat Mater compositions. Recorded in the Saarijärvi Church in 1999. |
| Choir | Cantinovum chamber choir |
| Orchestra | Chamber Orchestra Capriccioso |
| Conductor | Rita Varonen |
| Other works | Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: El Hambo Sami Klemola: Meditation on Death Robert Ross: My Mistress' Eyes Juha Holma: Belle qui tiens ma vie Sami Klemola: Under the Greenwood Tree Erkki Raiski: Stabat Mater Sami Klemola: Stabat Mater |
| Added | Unknown (KLE 01) |
E-mail:
stabatmater@dds.nl