Reflection on Stabat Mater (2026): Music by Kerensa Briggs 
Byrd Ensemble, directed by Markdavin Obenza
SRCD16
Release Date: April 3, 2026 (Digital Only)
Spotify, Youtube
 
THE BYRD ENSEMBLE
Markdavin Obenza, director
 
ABOUT THE MUSIC
In honor of Palestrina’s 500 Anniversary, we are proud to present the world-premiere recording of Kerensa Briggs’s, Reflection on Stabat Mater (2025), commissioned by the Byrd Ensemble.
 
The work draws on the antiphonal style of Palestrina's Stabat mater, but with modern harmonic language and the interpolation of English translations of phrases from the original Latin text. These phrases invite a dialogue between mother and child (and human and the divine) while exploring universal themes of compassion and loss.
 
Stabat Mater dolorosa
iuxta crucem lacrimosa.
Mater, dum pendebat filius.
Fons amoris.
Fac me tecum pia flere.
Sancta Mater.
Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
dum emisit Spiritum.
Eia Mater, fons amoris.
Me sentire vim doloris,
Fac ut tecum lugeam.
Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur. gloria.
 
The sorrowful Mother stood weeping beside the cross.
Mother, while the Son was hanging.
Fountain of love.
Make me weep devoutly with you.
Holy Mother.
Grant that my heart may burn while He gave up the spirit.
O Mother, fountain of love.
Make me feel the strength of sorrow, that I may mourn with you.
When the body shall die, grant that my soul may be given glory.
 
INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TEXT:
Blessed one.
Let me weep with you
Let me share thy grief divine.
When the time comes let me be guarded.
O Thou Mother be thy defence,
Holy mother, pierce through my heart,
grant my heart to burn.
Make me mourn with you, safe in paradise,
may thy soul thy goodness praise.
Blessed one.
 
Let me die in your embrace.
 
Soprano
Sophia Nash
Margaret Obenza
Ruth Schauble
 
Alto
Sarra S. Doyle
Joshua Haberman
 
Tenor
Orrin Doyle
Sam Faustine
Carson Lott
 
Bass
Clayton Moser
Matthew Peterson

 
Audio, Video, and Graphics produced by Markdavin Obenza for Scribe Records.
Recorded on March 4, 2026 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Seattle, WA
Produced and Distributed by Scribe Records