Hallgrímskirkja Choir Autumn Concert Siggi String Quartet – Seven Words of Christ on the Cross

 Haydn – The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross at Hallgrímskirkja

Siggi String Quartet

Palm Sunday 29th of March 2026 at 17 hrs.

On Palm Sunday, Siggi String Quartet performs Joseph Haydn’s profound masterpiece The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross at Hallgrímskirkja. Originally commissioned in 1786 for the Good Friday service in Cádiz, Spain, the work consists of an introduction, seven slow meditative movements based on Christ’s last moments. Haydn later arranged the piece for string quartet (Op. 51), today one of the most frequently performed versions.

Founded in 2012, Siggi String Quartet is a leading ensemble on the Nordic music scene, known for its commitment to both classical quartet repertoire and contemporary music. The quartet has premiered numerous new works and collaborated with many of Iceland’s foremost composers and artists.

Program:

L’Introduzione

Passion Hymn 34
The First Word of Christ on the Cross (verses 1, 2, and 3)

I. Sonata

Pater dimitte illis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt
(Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do)

Passion Hymn 40
The Third Word of Christ on the Cross (verses 1, 11, and 14)
In the Passion Hymns, the second word of Christ is interchanged with the third.

II. Sonata

Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso
(Today you will be with me in Paradise)

Passion Hymn 37
The Second Word of Christ on the Cross (verses 2 and 6)
In the Passion Hymns, the third word of Christ is interchanged with the second.

III. Sonata

Mulier, ecce filius tuus
(Woman, behold your son)

Passion Hymn 41
The Fourth Word of Christ on the Cross (verses 1 and 6)

IV. Sonata

Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me?
(My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)

Passion Hymn 42
The Fifth Word of Christ on the Cross (verses 1 and 6)

V. Sonata

Sitio
(I thirst)

Passion Hymn 43
The Sixth Word of Christ on the Cross (verse 1)

VI. Sonata

Consummatum est
(It is finished)

Passion Hymn 44
The Seventh Word of Christ on the Cross (verses 1 and 22)

Passion Hymn 46
On the Signs that Occurred at Christ’s Death (verses 1, 3, and 9)

VII. Sonata

In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum
(Father, into your hands I commend my spirit)

Il terremoto (The Earthquake)

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA – YOUR PLACE IN REYKJAVÍK