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Home›Music›Joseph Haydn: Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze (The Last Words of Our Lord on the Cross) Hob. XX

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Joseph Haydn: Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze (The Last Words of Our Lord on the Cross) Hob. XX

14 July 2026

Background:

  • Composed in 1787, and commissioned for the priest Jose Saenz de Santamaria, Marques de Valde-Inigo from Cadiz.
  • Originally a passion music for orchestra, it refers to the Seven Last Words of Christ, first performed on Good Friday 1787 at the chapel of Santa Cueva.
  • The orchestral version (Hob. XX/1A) was composed in 1786.
  • The string quartet version (Hob. XX/1B) in 1787.
  • The piano version in (Hob. XX/1c) 1787.
  • The choral version (Hob. XX/2) in 1796.

Recordings:

  • Complete Music for Solo Keyboard.
    Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano).
    BIS.
  • Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze.
    Cuarteto Casals.
    Harmonia Mundi.
    Gramophone Magazine (2014): Editor’s Choice.
  • The Seven Last Words (Orchestral Version 1786).
    Berner Symphonieorchester.
    Ton Koopman.
    Claves.
  • String Quartets Opp. 42 & 77. Seven Last Words.
    The London Haydn Quartet.
    Hyperion.
    Gramophone Magazine (2023): Critics’ Choice.
  • The Last Seven Words of Our Saviour on the Cross.
    Quatuor Mosaiques.
    Naïve.
  • Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze.
    Jose Maria Sanchez-Verdu (Sheba).
    Capella Augustina.
    Andreas Spering.
    Avi Music.
  • Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze (Choral Version).
    Inge Nielsen (soprano), Margaretha Hintermeier (mezzo-soprano), Anthony Rolfe Johnson, (tenor), Robert Holl (bass).
    Arnold Schoenberg Chor.
    Concentus Musicus Wien.
    Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    Teldec.
  • The Complete Overtures: Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze, Introduzione.
    Haydn Sinfonietta Wien.
    Manfred Huss.
    BIS.
    Gramophone Magazine (2009): Re-issue of the Month.
  • Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze.
    Ensemble Resonanz.
    Riccardo Minasi.
    Harmonia Mundi.
    Diapason d’Or (2019).
    International Classical Music Magazine (2019): Nominee Symphonic Music.
  • The Seven Last Words.
    Berliner Philharmoniker.
    Riccardo Muti.
    Philips.
  • The Seven Last Words of Christ.
    Nicolas Stavy (Piano).
    BIS.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.

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