Stefaan Vanheertum
About the composer
From the CD booklet:
From early age, Stefaan Vanheertum sang in several choirs and studied piano, treble recorder, alto sax and followed lessons in harmony, musical theory and musical history. At the same time he studied musical theory and harmony at the Conservatory in Ghent. At the same time he studied Chemistry at the Ghent University and this resulted in a PhD in Chemistry in 1982. In 1984 Stefaan started his professional career in the private sector based on his chemical degree in technical commercial positions. In 1986 he started composing on a regular basis, resulting primarily in a number of songs and some chamber music. As far as composition technique and instrumentation are concerned, Stefaan is an autodidact. His style of compositions can be catalogued under modernism and post modernism. His musical education and life long experience with choral singing results in a compositional technique based on mild serialism using heptatonic techniques. An important parameter of his music writing is the fun the performer has in this and accessibility to the listener without compromising on originality.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 2010-2012 |
| Performers: | Large instrumental ensemble, percussion, choir (SATB), soprano and alto solo. |
| Length: | 41.56 minutes |
| Particulars: | Vanheertum projects the latin text to the present. His composition is about the suffering of mothers when losing a child. His starting point is the feelings like disbelief, pain, anger, despair and finally acceptance and grief. Vanheertum refers to the events in 2015 and 2016 in Europe and the Middle East that illustrate the relevance: fanatic Syrian fighters killed in Syria and Iraq, innocent victims of attacks of such as those in Paris, Brussels and throughout the whole Middle East, the youg refugees drowned during the crossing of the Mediterranean. They all have families that are left orphaned. The CD booklet gives an extended description of the highlights of the composition. The 20 stanzas are preceded by an instrumental introduction and concluded with a final Amen. More information about this Stabat Mater, the CD and other compositions by Vanheertum you will find on his website. Click on the link below to listen to the last two minutes of the Stabat Mater. |
| Textual variations: | The "Analecta"-version of the text has been used. All 20 stanzas are sung. Sometimes (during stanza 6, 12 and 20) the lines of the first stanza are repeated. |
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Information about the recording
| CD: | Stabat Mater Stefaan Vanheertum |
| More info: | On Saturday, April 16th 2016 the new Stabat Mater composed by Stefaan Vanheertum was performed and recorded. |
| Orchestra: | Orchestra Arc en Ciel |
| Choir: | Choir Amici Cantantes |
| Conductor: | Florian Heyerick |
| Soloists: | Hilde Coppé, soprano |
| Other works: | Stefaan Vanheertum: 4 Romantic orchestral Songs |
| Code: | 2016 Vanh-01 (264) |
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