Antonio Soler
About the composer
Antonio Soler (Padre Antonio Francisco Javier Soler Ramos) is a Catalan composer and organ player. He was born in Olot, Gerona, Spain, in 1729. In 1752 he joined the Jeronymite monastery at El Escorial, becoming Maestro di Capilla in 1757. He spent some time in Madrid, studying with Domenico Scarlatti. Soler is best known for his – technically very demanding – keyboard sonatas. He also wrote a 272-page work about modulation, Llave de la Modulación, that received a lot of criticism from other composers, but his principles are still valid today.
He also wrote over 300 vocal works, mostly Latin church music. Though less known, the musical standard of these works is no less than his instrumental compositions. Antonio Soler died at El Escorial in December 1783.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 1775 |
| Performers: | 2 Soprano's, harpsichord and cello. |
| Length: | 12.36 minutes |
| Particulars: | Soler's Stabat Mater is divided in 7 parts and uses the first 10 stanzas. Still, this is a complete work, as, like Vivaldi, he uses the word "Amen" to conclude the piece. It is a beautiful and characteristic composition, with the two soprano's, differing slightly in timbre, blending with the background of harpsichord and cello accompaniment . |
| Textual variations: | Only the text of the first ten stanzas is used. Probably the "Analecta"-version of the text was used. |
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Information about the recording
| CD: | A&B Master Records 95 – II: P.Antonio Soler, El Primor del Nuevo Estilo |
| More info: | This CD was given to me by Dr. Hans van den Berg from Bolivia. It is dedicated to sacred vocal works of this composer. |
| Orchestra: | Asociación "Musica Barroca" La Stravaganza |
| Conductor: | Mariano Martin |
| Soloists: | Ana Maria Leoz, soprano |
| Other works: | O quam suavis est, Domine |
| Code: | SOL-01 |
