Stabat Mater (Antonín Dvořák Op. 58, 1877)

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) was a Czech composer of the late 19th century, whose symphonic style is often characterized as 'neo-romantic' with its full, lush orchestrations and ample choral support.  The first movement of his Stabat Mater (Op 58), like Poulenc featured last week, has a 'modern' sound, employing a more chromatic palate than earlier periods.  The first movement, on the text Stabat mater dolorosa, while not parroting the Gregorian theme, does employ downward scales reminiscent of the classic chant, setting a heavy, meditative tone.  Indeed, the composer wrote this piece, in part, in response to the death of his children, no doubt sharing his grief with that of the Blessed Mother.  In this context, the music does take on an inspired character which I would otherwise find hard to appreciate due to my own musical tastes: I tend to avoid syrupy-symphonic-Romanticism like the plague, and I am not too familiar or fond of other works in the Dvořák corpus.  The work does clock in at nearly an hour and a half, taking its time to savor the underlying prayer.