Recently, we were pleased to add two new Stabat Mater compositions to our collection, both by composers from Scandinavia. We’re excited to expand our repertoire with these works, showcasing the rich musical tradition of this region.

The first one is from Sweden by Fredrik Sixten. His Stabat Mater is a monumental choral work spanning over fifty minutes and divided into 18 distinct sections, culminating in a powerful “Amen.” This composition is an emotional journey, where melodious passages are interwoven with more atonal and dissonant segments. Sixten masterfully balances these contrasting elements, creating a piece that is both challenging and deeply moving. It offered us a captivating and immersive listening experience, making it a standout contribution to contemporary sacred music.

The second one is the composition by Kim André Arnesen, from Norway. We came across Arnesen’s composition through our contact with the Dutch Zingis Choir in Zeist, the Netherlands, which will perform this work in 2024/2025. We are impressed by the wonderful orchestral sections that either introduce or respond to the choral parts. Despite its relatively large orchestration, we believe this composition has a character suitable for liturgical performance in a church.