contemplation - Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Conductor’s Insight
Conductor’s Insight
in Haydn’s words:
“Each sonata is
expressed by purely
instrumental music in
such a fashion that it
produces the deepest
impression in the
soul even of the most
uninstructed listener.”
…
from Haydn’s hand) from 1801 was written for a standard classical orchestra. Haydn
did not consider it to be concert suitable, and that is partly why this version has
been neglected. He conducted it as an oratorio with chorus many times, because
he considered the original to be more appropriate in its intended environment:
in a church with the text spoken between the movements. I have to admit that
the moment I walked into the Basilica over a year ago, I have been waiting for an
opportunity to bring this work here to recreate Haydn’s first conception.
There are seven “sonatas” that present us with each of the seven sayings. They are
framed by an introductory movement and a final movement, representing the
earthquake. Each of the sonatas’ opening melodic lines coincide rhythmically with
the syllabic underlay of the Latin text of each of the last words. Haydn included the
text in the score to make his intent perfectly clear:
F. Holland Day, The Seven Last Words of Christ, 1898, Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross English with Latin text
forgiveness
I. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals,
one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know
what they are doing.”
Pater, dimitte illis, quia nesciunt, quid faciunt. Luke 23:34
from the opening of Sonata I
Haydn employed a remarkable number of compositional tactics to keep the listener engaged
for the entire hour-long duration of the work. His orchestration demonstrates careful planning
in the occasional use of flutes and extra horns, in order to save the trumpets and timpani until
the final earthquake. His technique varies greatly, ranging from empty unisons to delicate
melodies to thick, pounding chords. He even pushed the boundaries of dissonance and
harmonic cohesion of his time to express the suffering of Christ. One can clearly see how
he cherished this above all his works and it is revolutionary in the way it seeks to inspire the
listener to inward contemplation. As Haydn himself noted: “Each sonata is expressed by purely
instrumental music in such a fashion that it produces the deepest impression in the soul even
of the most uninstructed listener.”
salvation
compassion
angst
resignation
credence
acceptance
II. One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?
Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under
the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are
getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you
will be with me in Paradise.”
Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso. Luke 23:43
III. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his
mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
Mulier, ecce filius tuus. John 19: 26 –7
IV. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Deus meus, Deus meus, utquid dereliquisti me? Mark 15: 34
V. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.”
Sitio. John 19: 28
VI. A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop
and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.”
Consummatum est. John 19: 30
VII. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said
this, he breathed his last.
In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum. Luke 23:46
Haydn with Mozart, his student
6
7