Stabat Mater dolorosa

Use: Lent, Marian
Required Resources: SATB choir, organ
Language: Latin

The Stabat Mater dolorosa, for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), is one of the four liturgical sequences retained in the Lectionary. The others are the sequence for Easter, Pentecost (A or B) and Corpus Christi.

Dr. Colin Brumby has set the opening stanza of the sequence for SATB choir and organ. A string quartet or ensemble could also play the accompaniment.

In the key of d minor, the two sections of the work contrast in texture: the first, is strictly homophonic; the second introduces some polyphony. The flavor of Mozart's choral works pervades this piece. The extremely comfortable ranges (Soprano: D to D; Alto: Bb to B; Tenor: D to E; Bass: G to Bb) and the tunefulness of the choral lines make this a very accessible piece for any church choir.

A master of writing beautiful music for limited resources, Colin Brumby has many such motets and anthems among his compositions. He not only enjoys a reputation as one of Australia's leading composers in terms of international standing, but is also one of the country's most consistently-played composers. His large output finds immediate acceptance by both performer and audience alike.