Christopher Muscat
About the composer
Christopher Muscat was born 1977 in Malta. He got his Bachelor of Arts degree in music studies from the University of Malta as well of the University of Surrey (UK) where he studied composition and choral and orchestral conducting.
Since his professional conducting debut in 2000, Muscat has collaborated very closely with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and the Malta Youth Orchestra.
For many years Muscat has taught music at the University of Malta and sacred music at the Archbishop’s Seminary. He holds many positions in the world of music: guest conductor of local and international orchestras and ensembles, Artistic Director and Chairman of the Malta International Choir Festival, member of the World Choir Council and judge to international vocal, instrumental and composition competitions.
He is the recipient of many prices, for example in the UK and Spain He has premiered numerous works by contemporary composers and also recorded for television as well as for the international label GegaNEW. He was the conductor of the world premiere (2015) and of the recording of the Stabat Mater by Euchar Gravina, his fellow composer, also from Malta.
APS Bank Malta has in its National Competition for Maltese composers the category composing a sacred oratorio-type work on the Latin text of the Stabat Mater. In 2012 Muscat was the winner in this catergory. His impressive oeuvre contains two Stabat Maters: a little one from 1998 and the Stabat Mater from 2012.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 2012 |
| Performers: | Orchestra, mixed choir, soprano, cantor |
| Length: | 48.53 minutes |
| Particulars: | The seven movements alternate between traditional and non traditional stiles. In the fourth movement, Eia Mater, a cantor, symbolising each and every one of us, initiates an intimate prayer to (almost a conversation with) the Holy Mother. Here the composer pays his respects towards the great composers of the Renaissance era In stile di cantico Gregoriano. The composer takes us on a voyage from a gloomy atmosphere of the opening movements into a bright ending fully loaded with hope. The composer conducts his own work. He beautifully reproduces all the timbres of choir and orchestra, but very sparingly used together. I was very impressed with the performance! |
| Textual variations: | The Analecta-version of the text has been used. |
| Colour bar: |
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Information about the recording
| CD: | 2014 Gaga GR 20, ℗ 2014 APS bank (Malta). |
| More info: | The APS Bank Malta intensively supports (young) composers and performers. In 2021 our Ultimate Stabat Mater Website Foundation received this CD as a donation from the Marketing Unit of the APS Bank. Our heartfelt thanks for this!!
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| Orchestra: | Malta Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Choir: | St. Monica Choir, Jubilate Deo Choir |
| Conductor: | Christopher Muscat. |
| Soloists: | Charlene Portelli, soprano |
| Code: | MUS-01 |
