The ‘Stabat Mater’ is a 13th-century Catholic hymn to Mary which has been set to music by many composers throughout history. Composed in the final weeks of his life, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi originally scored it for solo soprano and alto voices, accompanied by strings and basso continuo. The haunting first movement, ‘Stabat Mater Dolorosa,’ is full of anguish and musical suspensions, a perfectly suitable candidate for arrangement for clarinet choir. 

Instrumentation:

• E-Flat Clarinet
• 4 B-Flat Clarinets
• Alto Clarinet/Basset Horn/Clarinet 5
• Bass Clarinet
• Contrabass Clarinet/Contralto Clarinet/String Bass