Jaakko Mäntyjärvi
About the composer
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi was born in Turku, Finland, in 1963. He graduated in English and Linguistics from Helsinki University and works as a translator. He studied music theory and choir conducting at the Sibelius Academy. As a composer he describes himself as an eclectic traditionalist: using influences from all periods and styles, but in a traditional approach. Being an active choir singer, most of his compositions are choral works. His composition Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae won 3rd prize in the 1997 European composition Competition for cathedral choirs. Jaakko Mäntyjärvi lives in Helsinki, Finland.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date: | 1998 |
| Performers: | Mixed choir and string ensemble |
| Length: | 10.59 minutes |
| Particulars: | The composition is divided into four parts. As the poem reminded him of the Finnish epic Kalevala, traditional runo tunes were used by Mäntyjärvi as a basis in the first and last parts. In the second part, for women's choir, a solo violin is heard. The third part, for male choir a cappella, has strong reminiscences of plain chant, as does the final "Amen". Throughout, the work has a beautifully subtle, tragic atmosphere, ending in hopeful notes on "gratia" and "gloria". |
| Textual variations: | The text of the "Vatican"-version is used, but the stanzas 13 to 18 are omitted. In its place stanza 19 of the "Analecta"-version has been added. |
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Information about the recording
| CD: | CANCD 12000: Commissioned by Cantinovum |
| More info: | This CD is a recording of a number of works, that have been commissioned by Rita Varonen, conductor of the Cantinovum chamber choir of Jyväskylä, Finland. As they have somewhat of a tradition to perform a new Stabat Mater each Easter, the CD contains no less than three Stabat Mater compositions. Recorded in the Saarijärvi Church in 1999. |
| Orchestra: | Chamber Orchestra Capriccioso |
| Choir: | Cantinovum chamber choir |
| Conductor: | Rita Varonen |
| Other works: | Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: El Hambo |
| Code: | KLE-01 |
