Browne – Stabat Mater (1504)

The Stabat Mater by John Browne is a celebrated setting of the 13th-century Latin hymn for choir, composed during the Tudor period. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of late 15th-century English sacred music and is one of the most famous works found in the Eton Choirbook. 

Here are the key details about the piece: 

• Composer: John Browne was an English composer of the late 15th century, described as “the greatest English composer of the period between Dunstaple and Taverner”.
• Context: The piece is a setting of the Stabat Mater Dolorosa, a poem about the Virgin Mary’s sorrow while watching Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.
• Structure and Style:
  • It is written for six voices
  • It is known for its highly emotional, dramatic, and expressive nature.
  • The music is characterized by florid, elaborate melodic lines, intricate rhythms
  • It is considered a “masterpiece” for its profound emotion and clarity of line.
• The Eton Choirbook: The manuscript of this work is preserved in the Eton Choirbook, one of the three main surviving sources of early Tudor church music. The original manuscript features complex notation, including parts written in red ink.