Cuarteto Casals - Haydn: String Quartet, Op. 51 'Seven Last Words' (2014) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Introduzione. Maestoso ed adagio
02. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata I. Vater, vergib ihnen. Largo
03. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata II. Fürwahr, ich sag' es dir. Grave e cantabile
04. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata III. Frau, hier siehe deinen Sohn. Grave
05. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata IV. Mein Gott, mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen? Largo
06. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata V. Jesus rufet: Ach, mich dürstet! Adagio
07. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata VI. Es ist vollbracht. Lento
08. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Sonata VII. Vater, in deine Hände empfehle ich meinen Geist. Largo
09. The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob.XX:2: Terremoto. Presto e con tutta la forza


Haydn wrote his 'Seven Last Words' in 1786/87 for Good Friday devotions in Cádiz. Although the custom in Cádiz was to perform an oratorio, Haydn's brief was in fact to write seven movements for orchestra alone, each creating a mood inspired by one of the sayings attributed to the dying Christ. He chose to frame them with a further slow movement called ‘Introduzione’ and a concluding Presto entitled ‘Il Terremoto’, intended to depict the earthquake that occurred after Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51).

This purely instrumental ‘oratorio’ consisting of seven contemplative slow movements was by no means an easy task; but the outcome was a work of sublime nobility, which in Haydn’s own transcription for string quartet has enjoyed unfailing popularity ever since.

It is entirely appropriate that this recording of Haydn’s 'Seven Last Words of Christ' should be performed by the Cuarteto Casals, for the work represents one of the few surviving traces of the composer’s flourishing relationship with Spain, where his music seems quickly to have become as popular as it was in France and Britain. There is footage of excerpts from the 'Seven Last Words' on our harmonia mundi YouTube channel recorded at Oratorio de Santa Cueva, Cadiz, the place for which the work was orginally written.

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