Release of "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" - by Rising Violet

Album artwork by Sharon England (www.sharonengland.com)

Dear Friends,

This is my first meditative / sacred recording released under the artist name “Rising Violet.” I was asked to arrange music for a Stations of the Cross service at my local parish.  I was handed a simple Latin chant from the 1200's called "Stabat Mater Dolorosa," and told I could do whatever I wanted with it.  

There are 15 verses in this chant. I decided not to change the vocal melody all that much, because I wanted folks to be able to sing along in the service, but the piano accompaniments range from jazz and rock to ambient, with harmonic influences of Arvo Pärt and Morten Lauridsen.  I had so much fun with it, I decided to record it.

I connect particularly with the suffering of Mary when I sing it. Basically, it’s her experience at the cross, watching her child be tortured and killed. It’s brutal and horrible, and it’s a reminder that suffering touches all of us at one time or another in life. Mary gets it. She understands. I love to make music at the intersection of empathy and creativity, and this chant fits the bill.

CDs are available at my shop and in the gift shop at the Grotto in Portland, Digital downloads will be available soon at my Bandcamp page.   

”Stabat Mater Dolorosa” releases worldwide on all the major music platforms on March 26, 2021, the Friday before Holy Week in 2021. I hope it can be enjoyed and bring peace in a variety of ways:
- Visit a church with Stations, load this music up on your phone, stick some headphones in, and listen to each verse as you walk from station to station.
- Listen to it in headphones while walking a labyrinth or on a trail through the woods
- Give it as a gift to someone that celebrates Lent/Easter (in CD form, or emailed as a gift through Bandcamp)
- Music for meditation
- Relaxation / falling asleep - it’s quite calming!  

Please share this album or links to the music with anyone you know that might enjoy it!  I'd also love to share it live or online in more religious spaces.  Do you know of place that might enjoy this music during a Stations of the Cross or other meditative service?  Feel free to reach out to them or send me your ideas.

Peace, love and music,
- naomi