Stations of the Cross is a sequence of fourteen movements for organ. They are arranged in two books, each of which contains seven movements. It was commissioned by Cambridge Summer Recitals and Dartington International Summer School.

Book I was composed in autumn 2004; Book II in early 2005. The complete sequence was first performed on 27^th July 2005 in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge by David Titterington, who also performed it in St. Andrew’s Church, Plymouth on 8^th August and at Westminster Cathedral, London on 15^th September. Like my setting of the Stabat Mater (to which it is quite closely related), Stations of the Cross uses a series of eight-note modes as its melodic and harmonic material. Two different modes are used in each movement: the first for an introductory section, the second for the main body of the movement. Both modes in each movement are based on the same keynote; these keynotes move gradually upwards, rising by a semitone each time. This increases the sense of harmonic change, and symbolises Jesus’ journey up to Calvary.

The sequence is designed to be performed in its entirety; but movements may of course be played individually. Moreover, either of the Books may be performed as a discrete entity – the last movement of each book faunctions as a finale. When the complete sequence is performed, it may be thought desirable (because of its length and intensity) to provide choral interludes between the pieces. I have arranged the first fourteen stanzas of the plainchant setting of the plainchant Stabat Mater (traditionally associated with devotional use of the Stations of the Cross) in a sequence of tropes for two-part voices which shadow the upward rise of the organ movements, linking them. This is available from www.gilesswayne.com.

Giles Swayne
June 2005