I don't
know about you, but I really had no idea that the Ave Maria tune we all know
and love is by Schubert. However, the Latin text that we hear almost
exclusively with this tune is not the original. This was surprising to me, even
though it shouldn't have been since...Schubert is definitely German. He composed this piece as the 6th in a setting of 7
songs from Walter Scott's epic poem "The Lady of the Lake", loosely
translated into German.
1. "Ellens
Gesang I", D. 837, Raste
Krieger, Krieg ist aus / "Soldier rest! the warfare o’er"
2. "Ellens
Gesang II", D. 838, Jäger,
ruhe von der Jagd / "Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done"
3. "Bootgesang",
D. 835, Triumph, er naht /
"Hail to the chief", for male voice quartet
4. "Coronach"
(Deathsong of the women and girls), D. 836, Er ist uns geschieden / "He is gone to the
mountain", for female choir
5. "Normans
Gesang", D. 846, Die Nacht
bricht bald herein ("Night will soon be falling")
6. "Ellens
Gesang III" (Hymn to the Virgin), D. 839, Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild! / "Ave Maria! maiden
mild!"
7. "Lied
des gefangenen Jägers", D. 843, Mein Roß so müd / "My steed is tired"
Originally titled "Ellens
Gesang III" (Hymn to the Virgin), Schubert’s Ave Maria is a prayer to the
Virgin Mary by Ellen Douglas (the Lady of the Lake). Schubert's arrangement is
said to have first been performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff
in the Austrian town of Steyregg and
dedicated to her, which led to her becoming known as "the lady of the
lake" herself. The beginning words and refrain beginning with "Ave
Maria" is most likely the reason that people later set the Roman Catholic
prayer "Ave Maria" to this tune. Schubert’s song is strophic,
meaning he used the same melody for each verse. This has become one of
Schubert's most famous melodies and has been set and sung in many different
forms by many different composers and vocalists.
Sources:
YouTube
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18531
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ave-Maria-song-by-Schubert
That's really interesting. I didn't know that Schubert gets credit for the origin. It's fascinating how cultures can warp things. I think of how many movies or TV shows that use this piece to communicate something entirely different than the original intended meaning.
ReplyDeleteYeah this is funny because we almost always associate this piece with tragedy and sadness. However, that seems to be an adaptation from its original meaning. I too had no idea Schubert composed this, which was quite a surprise. But after listening to the piece and understanding Schubert's style, it makes a lot of sense.
DeleteI wonder if the context of the lyrics is different as part of the set? Also it's interesting to see the origin of such a popular song.. I wonder if Schubert had any intention of it becoming so widely used for so many different purposes?
ReplyDeleteAlso was incredibly surprised to find out that Schubert was credited with Ave Maria.. How cool! Definitely makes me think of all of the contexts I've personally sang it in (which has ALWAYS been in the Latin text). It makes me wonder why we've never heard his way before.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that was super interesting. I didn't know that he originally set a German text. I also have only sung/heard this in Latin. It's not a corruption of his intent or anything--the two texts deal with exactly the same subject matter. It would be interesting to know when and why the Latin text became more popular (hint hint, future comment writers).
ReplyDeleteI read from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18531 that the latin text was substituted to make it more suitable for use in a church setting. Also, Chris Cornell's Ave Maria is pretty sweet. https://youtu.be/pd2emzFAqv8
DeleteGrowing up and going to Catholic school I had no idea Ave Maria was actually a tune. Always thought it was specific to church. Those nuns deprived me of so much.
ReplyDeleteI just want to make sure this is super clear: Ave Maria is a TEXT that has been set by many different composers. It is not a specific melody. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of settings of the Ave Maria text, and they are all entitled Ave Maria.
ReplyDeleteHere is a story. In 2004 I was contacted to provide music for a memorial service, and the person who hired me told me he wanted the Ave Maria. I responded, which Ave Maria? He said he didn't care. I thought that was a stupid answer and that he was stupid. I chose the Bach/Gounod setting because I thought he would like it, and he did, but I'll bet there's a John Tavener setting out there that he would have liked a lot less. Moral of this story: don't be stupid.