Haydn: 7 Last Words

Franz Joseph Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ was originally written as an orchestral work to be used as interstitial music during a Lenten service – the priest would speak one of the seven final phrases attributed to Christ during his crucifixion, and then music would be played; this process repeated seven times. But Haydn eventually created additional versions of the piece for string quartet, for piano, and for choir with orchestra. The music is somber and dramatic, as one might expect given that the “sayings” in question include “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” and the stark “It is finished.” The music is particularly effective in this string quartet version; the reedy sonorities and relatively thin texture of the bowed strings add extra intensity to Haydn’s deeply felt and sometimes nearly programmatic musical themes. The Attacca Quartet’s performance here is sensitive and beautiful.