Sacred Sounds Concert Series: At the Foot of the Cross

The Cathedral of St. Joseph presents At the Foot of the Cross, a moving Lenten choral meditation offered on the First Friday of Lent. This annual tradition at the mother church of the Archdiocese of Hartford invites the faithful to begin the Lenten season with prayer, beauty, and reflection through sacred choral music.

The program is anchored by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger’s deeply reverent Stabat Mater, a profound musical meditation on Mary’s sorrow at the Crucifixion. Surrounding this centerpiece are timeless works of penitence and hope by Allegri, Palestrina, Purcell, Byrd, and Duruflé, tracing a spiritual arc from supplication to charity and peace.

The Schola Cantorum of the Cathedral of St. Joseph is conducted by Dr. Gabriel Löfvall, Director of Music, with the Soli Deo Gloria Chamber Ensemble, Cathedral Organist Jacob Dowgewicz, and soloists drawn from the Schola Cantorum. This First Friday offering invites listeners not simply to attend a concert, but to enter fully into the spirit of Lent through music that speaks directly to the heart.