The Donegal Chamber Music Society continues its Sunday afternoon concert series in Conwal Parish Church, Letterkenny.
At their first concert of “Sundays in Conwal 2013″, the Donegal Camerata will perform ”The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross”, Op. 51, a master piece for string quartet by Franz Joseph Haydn, the father of the genre.
In 1786 Haydn was commissioned to compose an orchestral work called The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross. The work was designed for a performance at the Good Friday service at the Cádiz Cathedral in Southern Spain.
Haydn later adapted it for string quartet in 1787. The piece last about one hour and includes seven slow sections that are meditations on each of the last seven words or phrases spoke by Jesus on the Cross.
(1 Father forgive them, for they know not what they do; 2 Today you will be with me in paradise; 3 Behold your son: behold your mother; 4 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me; 5 I thirst; 6 It is finished; 7 Father, into your hands I commit my spirit).
Haydn also added an introduction and a final movement called Earthquake to the piece.
The Donegal Camerata is an international string ensemble of professional players based in the North West. The string quartet comprised Hungarian violinist Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo (first violin), Northern Ireland violinist Claire Cunningham (second violin); Slovakian string player Lucia Spacirova (viola); Spanish musician Víctor Yélamo (cello).
“The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross”, Op. 51 by Franz Joseph Haydn will be performed by the Donegal Camerata String Quartet on Palm Sunday (March 24th) in Conwal Parish Church at 3pm. Admissions € 10/ 5.
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