Augustin Volckmer
About the composer
Augustinus Volckmer (1755 – c.a.1820) was born in the small village of Trzebinia in Selesia, Poland. During Volckmer’s time, Trzebinia was part of the estate belonging to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jasna Gora, which was a part of Częstochowa. The Monastery of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the church, dedicated to the Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles, were significant places for musical culture in 18th-century Silesia.
There is limited information available about Volckmer’s life, except that he received his musical training thanks to the financial support of a provost Neuhaus, who was associated with the Peter and Paul church. Volckmer was also connected with the Nysa Holy Sepulcher Band in Jasna Gora.
Volckmer wrote many compositions for the Roman Catholic ceremonies: masses, litanies, motets, antiphons and one Stabat Mater. Over 30 manuscripts with his compositions, including the score of his Stabat Mater, are preserved in the archives of Pauline Monastery in Jasna Góra.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 1795 |
| Performers: | Solo voices and a four-part vocal ensemble, two violins, viola, two oboes, two flutes, bassoon, two horns and organ |
| Length: | 28.19 minutes |
| Particulars: | The composition consists of four arias, including a duet, one recitative, and four choruses. In the eighteenth century, many composers were influenced in their religious compositions by the luminous style emanating from the conservatories in Naples, Italy. This influence is notably evident in the virtuosic recitative. Volckmer's inventive composition style reflects characteristics of the late concertante style of the Baroque era. Furthermore, we found it particularly intriguing to discern the influence of the early classical style, reminiscent of Joseph Haydn's early oratorios. |
| Textual variations: | Volckmer's Stabat Mater our first one composed with the Polish language. The composition is divided into nine parts. During the translation from Latin to Polish, certain stanzas have been edited slightly. Stanzas 9 and 10 have been omitted, while some stanzas are placed differently. At the top of the color bar, the numbers correspond to the order of the Stabat Mater in Latin. |
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Information about the recording
| CD: | Music from Jasna Góra – MCCD 57 in 2021 |
| More info: | The CD booklet contains detailed information about the significant manuscripts of Volckmer and several other composers preserved in Jasna Góra. Our friend in correspondence, Aristides Chronopoulos, who frequently discovers CD recordings featuring Stabat Mater compositions, brought Volckmer’s Stabat Mater to our attention in August 2023. Aris, thank you! We extend warm thanks to Krzysztof Kuraszkiewicz of Musicon for generously donating the CD to our Foundation. |
| Orchestra: | LA TEMPESTA Early Music Ensemble |
| Choir: | LA TEMPESTA Early Music Ensemble |
| Conductor: | Jakub Burzyński |
| Soloists: | Magdalena Dobrowolska – soprano |
| Other works: | Augustin Volckmer: Lauda Sion, Generosa et formosa, Litaniae Lauretanae in F, Omni die, Salve Regina |
| Code: | VOL - 01 |
