Quatuor Debussy / Ensemble Gilles Binchois Haydn & Vellard: The Seven Last Words CD

Haydn composed The Seven Last Words in 1786 to accompany the liturgy of the long Good Friday ceremony in Cdiz. Later, he adapted this cycle of seven sonatas, all with a slow tempo for string quartet, which is the version recorded here. The intensity of this work expressing the final agony of Christ enables the listener to ignore the absence of text in this music. On the other hand, Dominique Vellard undertook to set these texts to music, having unsuccessfully sought for any sort of musical setting of the Seven Last Words that might serve as an introduction to Haydn's work. His Sept derni?res paroles are strongly influenced by early music, while also being nourished by his attentive listening to music from other traditions. The Ensemble Gilles Binchois and the Quatuor Debussy have come together to put these two works into perspective in a beautiful album, recorded in the crypt of Lagorce.

1. Haydn: The Seven Last words our Saviour on the cross, op.51, Hob.III/50-56 - Introduzione. Maestoso ed Adagio 2. Vellard: Les Sept derni?res paroles du Christ en croix - ôPater, dimitte illisö 3. Haydn: The Seven Last words our Saviour on the cross, op.51, Hob.III/50-56 - Sonata I. Largo in B flat major 4. Vellard: Les Sept derni?res paroles du Christ en croix - ôAmen, dico vobisö 5. Hayd: The Seven Last words our Saviour on the cross, op.51, Hob.III/50-56 - Sonata II. Grave e cantabile in C minor 6. Vellard: Les Sept derni?res paroles du Christ en croix - ôMulier, ecce filius tuus" 7. Haydn: The Seven Last words our Saviour on the cross, op.51, Hob.III/50-56 - Sonata III. Grave in E major 8. Vellard: Les Sept derni?res paroles du Christ en croix - ôEli, Eli, lama sabachthani ?ö