About the composer
This Stabat Mater is still sung in Sicily during the Passion week.
It is sung by one of the lay brotherhoods still in existence in villages of
Sicily, like they can be found in Sardinia and Corsica. It was in the 13th century that the
Franciscans founded the laudesi brotherhoods. As they were not allowed to play a
role in liturgy, the laudesi sang in processions, certain Holy Week ceremonies and played
a role in passion plays or religious mysteries celebrated on the church square.
However, the style of
singing in Sicily and Corsica is much more "civilized" as compared to the Sardinian Stabat Maters. Moreover, in villages throughout the
southern part of Italy polyphonic Stabat Maters are still being sung during processions,
for instance in the area of Naples.
| Date | 1400 - 1600? |
| Performers | Tenor and male choir |
| Length | 2.18 minutes |
| Particulars | The singing is polyphonic, using a tenor as lead voice. |
| Textual variations | Only stanza 1 is performed. |
| CD | Ethnica TA010: I Doli du Signuri |
| About this CD | This CD is a recording of religious music,
which still can be heard during the Passion Week in several Sicilian
villages. The Stabat Mater was recorded in S.Stefano di Camastra, Sicily 1998 |
| Performers | Corsican village people |
| Other works | 31 religious Passion songs |
E-mail:
stabatmater@dds.nl