Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross was commissioned for performance during Lent. Traditionally, the words or phrases (taken from all four gospels) are spoken, followed by a reading from the gospels, a homily or meditation on those words, then by the music. Since its composition, this work has continued to form a basis for presentations that invite audiences to consider the deeper issues that continue to affect mankind.

As part of the celebrations around the 200^th anniversary of Haydn’s death, Chamber Music New Zealand was keen to offer this rarely-performed work in concert, played by the New Zealand String Quartet. The opportunity to present it in association with specially commissioned words led to the idea of using poetry from New Zealand. Wellington poet Dinah Hawken was asked to respond to the challenge of providing words to accompany this music, and wrote eight thought-provoking poems which were read by the poet during the performances.

The idea of incorporating visual images grew out of collaborative discussions between Chamber Music New Zealand and the New Zealand String Quartet. Nigel Brown’s figurative representations which speak so strongly of New Zealand were considered to be ideal for this project, and Nigel produced eight lithographs in the series.

In order to pull the three elements together it was felt that another creative partnership was required. Director Sara Brodie, along with video designer Andrew Bretell, designed a presentation that enhances and illuminates the messages inherent in the music, the words and the art works to create a contemporary New Zealand setting for this timeless music.

I was both delighted and daunted to be asked to write this sequence of poems for Chamber Music NZ. Listening to Haydn’s meditative and dramatic music, reading the gospel accounts of the crucifixion, thinking about the symbolic nature of the cross and looking out from my desk in Paekakariki over pohutukawa to the sea – all these experiences have entered the poems. My hope is that the distilled language of spoken poetry will contribute its own depth, stimulation, and a New Zealand tone, to The Seven Last Words played by the String Quartet.

From poet Dinah Hawken.

Excerpt from the poems:

(Prologue)
And a cross? Is it the wrong answer
Or is it the kiss we send out to make
light of our love? Is it the crossing
Of my standpoint and your viewpoint
or an intersection with no lights
in a foreign city? Some say it is simply
The centre of the four directions, the place
We return to and most want to be.
Dinah Hawken

I paint from what I know, and my approach to Haydn and his Seven Last Words was to bring it to New Zealand in a visual sense, but retain its meditative thoughtful and timeless aspects. The arches [in the paintings] echo Haydn’s control but are bent in a contemporary way at the end; in a way that is not foreign to the surprises in the music. The text though is informal, in a way the Classical period avoids. Life goes on upfront, with musicians to the fore.

Christ is a series of possibilities found in ourselves – in how we live and what questions we ask; both in history and the now!

New Zealand has a rural, pastoral aspect that is specific with flax and tree ferns and kereru, but it is also linked to the barbed wire, struggle and fires of world conflict we are never far from.

We are all human.

From visual artist Nigel Brown.

Seven Last Words by Nigel Brown.

To view Nigel’s set of eight extraordinary works visit the Papergraphica website. These works are available to buy as a complete set of eight, or as individual works.

What the critics said:

Simple setting a perfect match for music, poems

John Button, Dominion Post

Barely a note or rest were out of place; there was an utter unanimity of purpose.

William Dart, NZ Herald

More reviews of the 2009 multi-disciplinary performances of Seven Last Words http://2009.chambermusic.co.nz/artists/185.php

Joseph Haydn.

2009 marked 200 years since the death of Joseph Haydn, a composer who changed the course of Western classical music through his “invention” of the string quartet. For its annual series tour the New Zealand String Quartet prepared two special programmes of discovery and celebration to honour a composer who brought new heights of expression and individuality to chamber music.

Programme one – Haydn Discovery

This innovative programme is a unique tribute to Haydn the adventurer – a musical journey of discovery through his long creative life, illustrated by excerpts from his string quartets from Opus 1 to Opus 103 and scripted readings illuminating his life and creative process.

What the critics said:

Twenty Haydn movements …were elegantly punctuated by illuminating comments from the composer, his contemporaries and the writers of the time.

William Dart, The NZ Herald

..brilliantly researched” and “an outstanding spoken and performance resumé of the composer’s life and string quartet music, completely entrancing the capacity audience.

Peter Williams, Hawkes Bay Today

…[the Quartet’s playing was] consistently characterful and engaging” and “their story-telling and detailing in words and music [exerted] an ever-increasing fascination throughout the evening.

Peter Mechen, Middle C

Programme two – Haydn Celebration

For this programme the Quartet has selected four of Haydn’s greatest and most beloved string quartets from different periods in his life, showing the variety and expressive power he brought to the medium.

• Quartet in D Major Opus 64 No 5, “The Lark”
• Quartet in G Minor Opus 74 No 3 “The Rider”
• Quartet in F Minor Opus 20 No 5
• Quartet in G Major Opus 77 No 1 “Compliments”

What the critics said:

…stunningly beautiful…intelligent interpretation [and] compelling sense of togetherness.

Ruth Allison, Nelson Mail

…overall superb quality that earned total admiration from appreciative listeners.

Peter Williams, Hawkes Bay Today

…vital intelligence…crisp excellence…

Marian Poole, Otago Daily Times