like so many other hymns the name of the hymn is made of the first few words. this is called an incipit. the first line reads "stabat mater dolorosa" ("the sorrowful mother stood"). the "stabat mater" hymn is about the suffering of mary, jesus christ's mother, during his crucifixion. it is sung at the liturgy on the memorial of our lady of sorrows. the "stabat mater" has been set to music by many composers, among them palestrina, pergolesi, alessandro scarlatti and domenico scarlatti, vivaldi, haydn, rossini, dvořák, george henschel, karol szymanowski, poulenc and arvo pärt.