Religion That's Set to Music: The Bach Sinfonia

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ALTHOUGH 17TH-CENTURY composer Heinrich Biber's violin music is now semi-famous, his setting of the Stabat Mater, the Latin text describing Mary's sorrows during Jesus' Crucifixion, has lain unperformed for about 300 years.

That'll change when Daniel Abraham and his Bach Sinfonia present the modern premiere of the work at Woodside United Methodist Church in Silver Spring.

Though it works within a conservative, churchly aesthetic, "there are some interesting devices," Abraham explains. "There's a theme that underlays the Crucifixus moments, with some motivic ties to other words. There's a fair amount of word painting, given the time. Sometimes there's a lot of mixture of mode. Probably the most intriguing thing is, 'Where is it going next?'"

Other under-heard 17th-century pieces round out the program: Giacomo Carissimi's "Historia di Jephte," from 1648, which Abraham calls "really the first of the great oratorios"; and selections from Salamon Rossi's "Songs of Solomon."

After the performance, the Bach Sinfonia will record the program for Dorian, and Abraham will seek to publish his performing edition of the Stabat Mater. Yet simply unearthing the Biber has given Abraham satisfaction: "Your hands are on it for the first time in many centuries. You've put something out there for the consideration of humanity."

» Woodside United Methodist Church, 8900 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Sat., 8 p.m., $28 ($15 for students); 301-362-6525. (Silver Spring)

Written by Express contributor Andrew Lindemann Malone
Photo courtesy Bach Sinfonia