Bononcini wrote many cantatas, but this is his sole setting of the Stabat Mater. This Baroque mass manifests a flavour of Viennese traditions as well as native Italian melodic strengths.Composer and cellist Antonio Bononcini wasthe younger brother of Giovanni Bononcini, known as a rival of Handel in London. At one time he was Kapellmeister to the future Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, but spent most of his life in Italy, particularly Modena where he wasmaestro di cappella.