Summer Concert 2020

Summer Concert 2020.

HYTHE FESTIVAL EVENT.

7.30 p.m., 4th July 2020 at St. Leonard`s church, Hythe

Franz Joseph Haydn - Stabat Mater
Franz Joseph Haydn - Salve Regina in G minor
George Frideric Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Antonio Vivaldi - Double Oboe Concerto

THIS CONCERT IS SUBJECT TO POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION WITH REGARD TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 SITUATION

Stabat Mater composed by Franz Joseph Haydn

Joseph Haydn`s, Stabat Mater Hob XXa:1 was written in 1767, for mixed choir, soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists, two oboes both doubling English horn in the sections in E-flat major, strings and organ continuo. This was the first church work the composer wrote after entering the service of Prince Esterházy in Eisenstadt. Unlike almost all of his other sacred works, it soon circulated in numerous copies and established Haydn`s reputation as the leading composer of the day. The original signed manuscript has never been found.
The first performance was thought to be given on 25th March 1768 in Vienna with Haydn conducting from the harpsichord.
The work is divided into thirteen sections and is built around five choruses, seven arias and one duet. In the final movement the chorus establishes the vision of the Paradise in a bright G major, a fugue that becomes more and more florid until it encourages a burst of grateful colour from the soprano.

Stabat Mater dolorosa
O quam tristis et afflicta
Quis est homo qui non fleret

4. Quis non posset contristari
5. Pro peccatis suae gentis
6. Vidit suum dulcem natum
7. Eja Mater, fons amoris
8. Sancta Mater, istud agas
9. Fac me vere tecum flere
10. Virgo virginum praeclara
11. Flammis orci ne succendar
12. Fac me cruce custodiri
13. Quando corpus morietur

Franz Joseph Haydn

This piece is a substantial composition that shows Haydn`s early Classical style in a work combining grandeur with a neatly balanced structure with many instances of word-painting in the musical representation of the text. Though comparatively early in his music output this piece shows a strong personality with well defined ideas well suited to the subject matter. The works scoring is modest and suggests evidence that Eisenstadt`s influences were present. Haydn was clearly proud of the Stabat Mater as suggested by the approval of elder statesmen of church music at the time. It was performed in Paris in 1781 and in London in 1784.

Salve Regina in G minor composed by Franz Joseph Haydn

The Salve Regina in G minor H XXIIIb 2 is generally considered to be composed in 1771. This is attributable to the fact that the original manuscript contained a coded message within the score that indicates 1771 was the year of composure. The manuscript was actually dated as 1770, but with the final zero crossed out and replaced with a one, presumably by Haydn, himself. It is not known with any certainty the occasion or the venue for which the piece was intended but is is generally regarded that it was composed to honour the Virgin Mary after Haydn`s recovery from a serious illness, details of which are not known. The piece was scored for relatively small forces including four soloists, organ and strings, but is often performed with four part choir as given by the Folkestone Choral Society on 21st March 2020. Salve Regina was composed on a smaller scale than that of the Stabat Mater but has more coherance and fluidity with several sections linked forming larger movements. Also, the wording of this piece has been constructed more skillfully and memorable than the earlier Stabat Mater.

1. Salve Regina mater misericordiae !
Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra salve !
Ad te clamamusexules filii Evae.
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes,
in hac lacrimarum valle.

2. Eja ergo, advocate nostre ,illos
tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.

3. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui
nobis post hoc exilum ostende !
Jesum ostende nobis !

O clemens, o pia, o dulcis virgo Maria !

Hail to thee, Queen, mother of mercy !
Our life our consolation and our hope, hail to thee !
To thee we cry, we banished children of Eve.
To thee we sigh, sorrowing and weeping,
in this vale of tears.

Oh thou, our advocate,turn
upon us thine eyes so full of mercy.

And Jesus, the blessed fruit of my womb,
show to us after our exile !
Show Jesus to us !

O compassionate, o pious, o sweet Virgin Mary.

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba composed by George Frederick Handel.

The "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" is a sinfonia for oboes and strings composed by George Frederick Handel in 1748. This bright and lively sinfonia formed part of the first scene in Act III of the Oratorio "Solomon". "Solomon" is based on the biblical stories of King Solomon. It was premiered in London on 17th March 1749. The "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" interlude is a widely appreciated processional set piece and has become famous in it`s own right. "Solomon" was one of Handel`s many oratorios and due to the length, is rarely performed in its entirety. "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" often was, and still is played during wedding ceremonies and was featured during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.