Crucifixion

The third movement from the Symphonie Passion by Marcel Dupré.

The procession of Jesus to the place of execution is graphically portrayed in the long and gradual building of the opening ‘stumbling’ theme and intense harmony and counterpoint, ending with three hammered phrases representing the nails being driven into our Lord (5:06). On Friday or early Saturday of Holy Week, Christians celebrate the Office of Tenebrae. Candles are gradually extinguished leaving one candle lit. At the end of the last prayer the 'strepitus' occurs; a loud and sudden banging noise representing the earthquake at the death of Jesus. Dupré portrays this moment with a fierce chord at 5:30. There follows a representation of dying breaths and the plainsong ‘Stabat Mater Dolorosa’ follows accompanied by a ‘sobbing’ motif. Mary attends her dead son Jesus beneath the cross. An echo of the plainchant in the pedal part, represents both Mother and Son together.

Stabat mater dolorósa
juxta Crucem lacrimósa,
dum pendébat Fílius.

At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to her Son to the last.