Pre-Festival Event: Joseph Haydn – The Seven Last Words of Christ
Meditations on a Sacred Text
The Seven Last Words of Christ is a Holy Week service begun in 1732 in Peru from where it quickly spread to both Catholic and Protestant countries. The service, which alternates between readings and music meditating on the seven last statements of the crucified Christ, has also inspired compositions by, among others, Schutz, Pergolesi, Gounod, Cesar Franck and, more recently, James MacMillan.
Haydn’s setting
In 1786, Josef Haydn was commissioned to write an orchestral setting for a Good Friday service in Cádiz. It was made up of a series of sonatas, each relating to one of the seven last words of Christ during the crucifixion. The music begins with an introduction, followed by seven slow movements, and ending with an “earthquake”. After Cádiz, The Seven Last Words of Christ became popular throughout Europe, and Haydn approved a piano version, and then prepared one for choir. In 1787, he set the work for string quartet; now the most popular version and the one to be heard at St Dunstan’s.
Haydn’s setting for string quartet will be performed at this event by The Coralroot Ensemble, the members of which are:
Ruth Beedam (cello)
Jessica Brierley (viola)
Biranda Ford (violin)
Katy Gorsuch Johns (violin)
Free entry – no ticket required – but there will be a voluntary retiring collection at the end of the event, the proceeds of which will be donated to the registered charity Hospice in the Weald.
This event is supported by St Dunstan’s PCC and the Mayfield Festival.
