Day 60: Seven Last Words of Christ

HaydnCD60I was tempted to come up with a goofy title for today’s blog entry. After all, today marks two continuous months for me, listening to Haydn every day.

But the title of today’s Haydn composition is Die Sieben Letzten Worte, or The Seven Last Words of Christ.

How could I write a goofy headline with a subject matter like that?

Obviously, I couldn’t.

According to its entry on Wikipedia, today’s composition,

is an orchestral work by Joseph Haydn, commissioned in 1785 or 1786 for the Good Friday service at Cádiz Cathedral in Spain. The composer adapted it in 1787 for string quartet and in 1796 as an oratorio (with both solo and choral vocal forces), and he approved a version for solo piano.

The seven main meditative sections — labelled “sonatas” and all slow — are framed by an Introduction and a speedy “Earthquake” conclusion, for a total of nine movements.

Given those dates, Haydn was 54 or 55 when he composed this piece.

I have nothing against Jesus, last words or first. However, Haydn’s Die Sieben Letzten Worte is wearisome. It’s too ponderous (strike that: let’s call it lugubrious) for my tastes. No breakout arias. No orchestration that just knocks me back.

I often wonder if sacred/religious music like this is meant to be heard many decades (or even centuries) after it was composed. To me, it seems akin to somebody setting my prayers to music and releasing it as an album. In other words, making public very private, personal moments. The meaning I intend for that private moment may not be understood by an audience.

But what do I know? I’m not a musicologist. I’m just a guy with a box set of Haydn CDs, slogging my way through all of them. My opinion is not likely to cause musicians to say, “Why, yes. This Bill guy is right! Haydn’s Seven Last Words really is crap. Let’s not perform it any more.” Nor, am I suggesting anyone should conclude that after reading my opinion.

Here are the performers on today’s CD:

Petra Labitzke soprano
Gabriele Wunderer contralto
Daniel Sans tenor
Christof Fischesser bass
Chamber Choir of Europe
Kurpfalzisches Kammerorchester Mannheim
Nicol Matt, Conductor

Incidentally, I should note that these performances – as well as the recording itself – are first rate. This is high quality, as is everything released by Brilliant Classics.

I’m not sure if anyone has shared this exact performance on YouTube. But I did find the entire concert in the clip below. NOTE: The clip below is not what I heard today. But it is Haydn’s Die Sieben Letzten Worte.

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