The founder of the Ultimate Stabat Mater Website, Hans van der Velden (1937 – 2005), has meticulously kept track of the growing number of composers in his collection. This week, we added three new composers—Marco Finotti, Timothy Helisek, and Carlos Garcia—bringing our total to an impressive 341 composers. Let’s take a moment to reflect on how it all began.

Hans van der Velden began his unique collection of Stabat Mater compositions in the early 1990s. His journey started with systematic searches for Stabat Mater composers in CD stores across the country and abroad. The advent of the internet significantly simplified his quest, breaking down geographical barriers and transforming the collection process. This transformation accelerated in 1997 with the launch of the Ultimate Stabat Mater Website. The website became a shining example of the internet’s original spirit: a platform for sharing and receiving. Music enthusiasts began alerting us to new CDs, composers, or translations, often generously sending us these discoveries at no cost.

As our visibility increased, we began to receive even more direct communications from composers. Many informed us about their compositions, shared their CDs, or pointed us to their YouTube recordings. In response to the evolving music distribution landscape, we also adjusted our policies. With the decline in CD production, we decided a few years ago to expand our collection to include other formats, such as MP3 and MP4 files. However, we maintain the requirement that we must physically possess the recording in our collection.

Our journey is a testament to the power of community and the boundless possibilities of the internet. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Ultimate Stabat Mater Website, helping us to share the profound beauty of the Stabat Mater with a global audience.

Stay tuned for more updates as our collection continues to grow and evolve!