A few days ago, the Ultimate Stabat Mater Website Foundation launched the renewed website www.stabatmater.info. This site takes the visitor on a documented musical journey through 30 countries, along 300 composers from the year 1400 to the present day. The website allows to search for composers alphabetically, chronologically, by country of origin and by duration. Visitors may listen to the compositions and watch the videos of special performances. The site also includes translations of the original Latin poem Stabat Mater Dolorosa in 24 different languages.
A blog contains international news about compositions, performances and recordings. The website features an English and a Dutch page. The Dutch part has an agenda of Stabat Mater performances in the country. Some historical and contemporary artworks illustrate the universal theme of mourning the loss of a child.
Hans van der Velden (1937- 2005) collected and described hundreds of compositions of the Stabat Mater since 1992. His partner Hannie van Osnabrugge continued this project after his death. In 2020, she decided to set up the Ultimate Stabat Mater website Foundation.
With its unique collection and expertise, the foundation aims to serve composers, musicians, and music lovers around the world. In addition, the foundation has been established to ensure the survival of the unique collection and website in the future.