Ave Maria Lyrics: Ave Maria Gratia plena / Maria Gratia plena / Maria Gratia plena / Ave, ave dominus / Dominus tecum / Benedicta tu in mulieribus / Et benedictus / Et benedictus fructus ventris. Read or print original Ave Maria lyrics 2020 updated! Ave Maria / Gratia plena / Maria, gratia plena / Maria, gratia plena / Ave, ave.
Portrait of Franz Schubert by Franz Eybl (1827)
Walter Scott
'Ellens dritter Gesang' ('Ellens Gesang III', D. 839, Op. 52, No. 6, 1825), in English: 'Ellen's Third Song', was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Op. 52, a setting of seven songs from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, loosely translated into German.
It is one of Schubert's most popular works. Beyond the song as originally composed by Schubert, it is often performed and recorded by many singers under the title 'Ave Maria' (the Latin name of the prayer Hail Mary, and also the opening words and refrain of Ellen's song, a song which is itself a prayer to the Virgin Mary), in musically simplified arrangements and with various lyrics that commonly differ from the original context of the poem. It was arranged in three versions for piano by Franz Liszt.[1]
The Lady of the Lake and the 'Ave Maria'[edit]
1879 painting of Ellen's Isle, Loch Katrine
The piece was composed as a setting of a song (verse XXIX from Canto Three) from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake,[2] in a German translation by Adam Storck [de] (1780–1822),[3] and thus forms part of Schubert's Liederzyklus vom Fräulein vom See. In Scott's poem the character Ellen Douglas, the Lady of the Lake (Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands), has gone with her exiled father to stay in the Goblin's cave as he has declined to join their previous host, Roderick Dhu, in rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chieftain of Clan Alpine, sets off up the mountain with his warriors, but lingers and hears the distant sound of the harpist Allan-bane, accompanying Ellen who sings a prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary, calling upon her for help. Roderick Dhu pauses, then goes on to battle.[4]
Schubert's arrangement is said to have first been performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff in the little Austrian town of Steyregg and dedicated to her, which led to her becoming known as 'the lady of the lake' herself.[5]
The opening words and refrain of Ellen's song, namely 'Ave Maria' (Latin for 'Hail Mary'), may have led to the idea of adapting Schubert's melody as a setting for the full text of the traditional Roman Catholic prayer 'Ave Maria'. The Latin version of the 'Ave Maria' is now so frequently used with Schubert's melody that it has led to the misconception that he originally wrote the melody as a setting for the 'Ave Maria'.
Position within the cycle[edit]
In 1825, Schubert composed a selection of seven songs from Scott's The Lady of the Lake. They were published in 1826 as his Opus 52.
The songs are not intended for a single performer: the three songs of Ellen are piano songs for a woman's voice, while the songs for Norman and the Count of Douglas were intended for the baritone Johann Michael Vogl. The remaining two songs are written one for a male and the other for a female ensemble.
- 'Ellens Gesang I', D. 837, Raste Krieger, Krieg ist aus / 'Soldier rest! the warfare o'er'
- 'Ellens Gesang II', D. 838, Jäger, ruhe von der Jagd / 'Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done'
- 'Bootgesang', D. 835, Triumph, er naht / 'Hail to the chief', for male voice quartet
- 'Coronach' (Deathsong of the women and girls), D. 836, Er ist uns geschieden / 'He is gone to the mountain', for female choir
- 'Normans Gesang', D. 846, Die Nacht bricht bald herein ('Night will soon be falling')
- 'Ellens Gesang III' (Hymn to the Virgin), D. 839, Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild! / 'Ave Maria! maiden mild!'
- 'Lied des gefangenen Jägers', D. 843, Mein Roß so müd / 'My steed is tired'
Schubert composed the songs to the German texts. However, with the exception of No. 5, the songs were clearly intended to be published with the original English texts as well. This meant finding correspondences to Storck's sometimes quite free translations, which entailed significant difficulties.
Lyrics[edit]
Mezzo-soprano Dorothea Fayne, Uwe Streibel (piano) | |
Problems playing this file? See media help. |
Storck's translation used by Schubert | 'Hymn to the Virgin' by Sir Walter Scott[6] |
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Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild, Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen, Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild Soll mein Gebet zu dir hin wehen. Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen, Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind. O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen, O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind! Ave Maria! Ave Maria! Unbefleckt! Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken. Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft, O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen, O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft! Ave Maria! Ave Maria! Reine Magd! Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen, Von deines Auges Huld verjagt, Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen, Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen, Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht; Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen, Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht. Ave Maria! | Ave Maria! maiden mild! Listen to a maiden's prayer! Thou canst hear though from the wild; Thou canst save amid despair. Safe may we sleep beneath thy care, Though banish'd, outcast and reviled – Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer; Mother, hear a suppliant child! Ave Maria! Ave Maria! undefiled! The flinty couch we now must share Shall seem with down of eider piled, If thy protection hover there. The murky cavern's heavy air Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled; Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer, Mother, list a suppliant child! Ave Maria! Ave Maria! stainless styled. Foul demons of the earth and air, From this their wonted haunt exiled, Shall flee before thy presence fair. We bow us to our lot of care, Beneath thy guidance reconciled; Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer, And for a father hear a child! Ave Maria! |
Latin Catholic prayer version | |
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Ave Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena, Ave, Ave, Dominus, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus, Et benedictus fructus ventris (tui), Ventris tui, Jesus. Ave Maria! Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Ora, ora pro nobis; Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Nunc et in hora mortis, In hora mortis nostrae. In hora, hora mortis nostrae, In hora mortis nostrae. Ave Maria! | Hail Mary, full of grace, Mary, full of grace, Mary, full of grace, Hail, Hail, the Lord The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Thy womb, Jesus. Hail Mary! Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Pray, pray for us; Pray for us sinners, Now, and at the hour of our death, The hour of our death. The hour, the hour of our death, The hour of our death. Hail Mary! |
Used in Fantasia (1940)[edit]
Walt Disney used Schubert's song in the final part of his 1940 film Fantasia, where he linked it to Modest Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain in one of his most famous pastiches. The end of Mussorgsky's work blends with almost no break into the beginning of Schubert's song, and as Deems Taylor remarked, the bells in Night on Bald Mountain, originally meant to signal the coming of dawn, which cause the demon Chernobog to stop his dark worship and the ghosts to return to the grave, now seem to be church bells signalling the beginning of religious services. A procession of monks is shown walking along. The text for this version is sung in English, and was written by Rachel Field.[7] This version also had three stanzas, like Schubert's original, but only the third stanza made it into the film (one line in the last stanza is partially repeated to show how it is sung in the film):
Ave Maria! Now your ageless bell so sweetly sounds for listening ears, from heights of Heaven to brink of Hell in tender notes have echoed through the years. Aloft from earth's far boundaries Each poor petition, every prayer, the hopes of foolish ones and wise must mount in thanks or grim despair. Ave Maria! | Ave Maria! You were not spared one pang of flesh, or mortal tear; So rough the paths your feet have shared, So great the bitter burden of your fear. Your heart has bled with every beat. In dust you laid your weary head, the hopeless vigil of defeat was yours and flinty stone for bread Ave Maria! | Ave Maria! Heaven's Bride. The bells ring out in solemn praise, for you, the anguish and the pride. The living glory of our nights, of our nights and days. The Prince of Peace your arms embrace, while hosts of darkness fade and cower. Oh save us, mother full of grace, In life and in our dying hour, Ave Maria! |
The version heard in Fantasia was arranged by Leopold Stokowski especially for the film, and unlike the original, which is for a solo voice, is scored for soprano and mixed chorus, accompanied by the string section of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The soloist is Julietta Novis. The Ave Maria sequence was later featured in Very Merry Christmas Songs, which is part of Disney Sing-Along Songs, as a background movie for the song Silent Night.
Appearances[edit]
In the 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein, a hermit plays the piece on solo violin, which soothes the Creature.
In the 1944 Academy Award-winning film Going My Way, Metropolitan Opera singer Risë Stevens performs the piece with Bing Crosby and the Robert Mitchell Boys Choir.[8]
Yehudi Menuhin performs a version for violin and piano in the 1943 American musical film Stage Door Canteen.
The song was performed by tenor Luigi Vena at the funeral of American president John F. Kennedy.[9]
A rendition of the song was featured in the 2006 video game Hitman: Blood Money, where it was sung by Daniel Perret of the Zurich Boys' Choir.[10][better source needed]
The 2016 science fiction film 2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be, based on the story by Kurt Vonnegut, extensively uses the piece as diegetic music. The song's placement in the film is timed so that the line 'Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht' ('And for a father hear a child!') is heard by the character Wehling, before he shoots himself in order to save his children.[11]
The song was covered by Chris Cornell in his 2018 posthumous, self-titled album Chris Cornell.
Idina Menzel covered the song as a mash-up with 'O Holy Night' for her 2019 Christmas album Christmas: A Season of Love.
Alongside Bach/Gounod's and Offenbach's Ave Maria, Schubert's Ave Maria has become a regular feature at funerals, wedding masses and quinceañeras.
See also[edit]
- 'Ave Maria' by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and French composer Charles Gounod
- 'Ave Maria' by German/French composer Jacques Offenbach[12]
- 'Ave Maria' by Russian composer Vladimir Vavilov, often misattributed to Italian composer Giulio Caccini
- 'Ave Maria' by American R&B artist Beyoncé, a modern re-written rendition featured on her album I Am... Sasha Fierce.[13]
References[edit]
- ^'Liszt and the Ave Maria : Interlude.hk'. Interlude.hk. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^Spaeth, Sigmund (2005). Whitefish, Montana Stories Behind the World's Great Music, p. 114, Kessinger Publishing
- ^Das Fräulein vom See: Ein Gedicht in sechs Gesängen von Walter Scott. Aus dem Englischen, und mit einer historischen Einleitung und Anmerkungen von D. Adam Storck, Professor in Bremen. Essen, G. D. Baedeker, 1819
- ^Verses XXVIII–XXX, The Lady of the Lake, Canto Three
- ^'cf. The Schubert Institute (UK)'. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008.
- ^The Lady of the Lake, Canto Three, verse XXIX.
- ^Taylor, Deems (1940). Fantasia. Simon & Schuster. ASINB000KM5K12., with a foreword by Leopold Stokowski
- ^'Going My Way (1944) – soundtrack'. IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^Lowens, Irving (December 1, 1963) [Reprinted from the Washington Star, 1963-12-01]. 'President Kennedy's Funeral Music 'Accurate Listing of Funeral Music' by Irving Lowens, Washington Star music critic'. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^'Hitman: Blood Money (Video Game 2006)', IMDb, retrieved 2019-12-02
- ^Black, Anna (2016). ''...for a father hear a child!' Schubert's Ave Maria and the film 2BR02B'. The Schubertian. The Schubert Institute (UK) (91): 16–19.
- ^'Ave Maria solo de Soprano:'. bnf.fr. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^Horan, Tom (2008-11-08). 'Beyoncé: dream girl'. The Daily Telegraph. London. ISSN0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
External links[edit]
- 'Ellens dritter Gesang': Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
- Sheet music, Cantorion.org
- The Lady of the Lake, edition with notes by William J. Rolfe, Boston 1883, with the song on page 58, and notes on alternate words on page 177
- The Lady of the Lake (Gutenberg e-text #3011) The full text of Walter Scott's poem, including 'Hymn to the Virgin'
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ave_Maria_(Schubert)&oldid=935797149'
(Redirected from Ave Maris Stella)
Ave maris stella in a 14th-century antiphonary
'Ave maris stella' (Latin for 'Hail, star of the sea') is a Marian hymn used at Vespers from about the eighth century. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions.
Background[edit]
The creation of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century), Saint Venantius Fortunatus (6th century)[1] and Hermannus Contractus (11th century).[2] The text is not found written by 9th-century hands, but as a tenth-century addition in two 9th-century manuscripts, one from Salzburg now in Vienna[3] and the other still at the Abbey of Saint Gall[4]. Its frequent occurrence in the Divine Office made it popular in the Middle Ages, many other hymns being founded upon it.[1] The 'Ave maris stella' was highly influential in presenting Mary as a merciful and loving Mother.[5] 'Much of its charm is due to its simplicity'.[6] The title, 'Star of the Sea' is one of the oldest and most widespread titles applied to Mary. The hymn is frequently used as a prayer for safe-conduct for travelers.[7]
The melody is found in the Irish plainsong 'Gabhaim Molta Bríde', a piece in praise of St. Brigid of Kildaire[8]. The popular modern hymn Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star, is loosely based on this plainsong original.
Latin lyrics[edit]
Beginning of Ave maris stella, in its ancient chant setting
The Latin text of the hymn as authorized for use in the Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Rite (ordinary form) is the following:[9]
Ave, maris stella, Dei mater alma, atque semper virgo, felix cœli porta. Sumens illud «Ave» Gabrielis ore, funda nos in pace, mutans Evæ[10] nomen. Solve vincla reis, profer lumen cæcis, mala nostra pelle, bona cuncta posce. Monstra te esse matrem, sumat per te precem [11] qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus. Virgo singularis, inter omnes mitis, nos culpis solutos mites fac et castos. Vitam præsta puram, iter para tutum, ut videntes Jesum semper collætemur. Sit laus Deo Patri, summo Christo decus, Spiritui Sancto tribus honor unus. Amen.[12] | Hail, star of the sea, Nurturing Mother of God, And ever Virgin Happy gate of Heaven Receiving that 'Ave' (hail) From the mouth of Gabriel, Establish us in peace, Transforming the name of 'Eva' (Eve).[13] Loosen the chains of the guilty, Send forth light to the blind, Our evil do thou dispel, Entreat (for us) all good things. Show thyself to be a Mother: Through thee may he receive prayer Who, being born for us, Undertook to be thine own. O unique Virgin, Meek above all others, Make us, set free from (our) sins, Meek and chaste. Bestow a pure life, Prepare a safe way: That seeing Jesus, We may ever rejoice. Praise be to God the Father, To the Most High Christ (be) glory, To the Holy Spirit (Be) honour, to the Three equally. Amen. |
Musical settings[edit]
Part of a series on the |
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The plainchant hymn has been developed by many composers from pre-baroque to the present day. The Roman Rite employs four different plainchant tunes for the Ave maris stella; the first three are designated for solemnities, feasts, and memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary;[9] a fourth is given in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an alternative to the memorial tone. These plainchant tones have been used as the cantus firmus for some polyphonic settings of the mass, including those by Josquin and Victoria.[14]
Renaissance settings include those by Hans Leo Hassler, Felice Anerio, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Dufay and Byrd. Baroque settings include Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine 1610, one by Emperor Leopold I, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, 4 sets, H 60, H 63, H 65, H 67. Sébastien de Brossard, Romantic settings include those by Dvorak, Grieg, and Liszt. Modern composers who have either set the text or used the hymn as an inspiration include Marcel Dupré, Grace Williams, Peter Maxwell Davies, Otto Olsson, Trond Kverno, Jean Langlais, Mark Alburger, James MacMillan, and Andrew Cusworth.
Acadian anthem[edit]
'Ave Maris Stella' is the anthem of the Acadians, a francophone community in the Canadian Maritimes distinct from the French-Canadians of Quebec.
The Acadians were highly devout, and had and still have a high degree of devotion to the Virgin Mary. As such, Acadia's symbols reflect its people's beliefs. This is particularly evident in their anthem which instead of being written in French is written in Latin. It was adopted as the anthem of the Acadian people at the Second Acadian National Convention, held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island in 1884.[15] To this day, it remains a source of Acadian patriotism.
The hymn was sung in its original version until French lyrics were finally composed in 1988.[15] The French lyrics are attributed to Jacinthe Laforest, from Mont-Carmel, Prince Edward Island, who submitted her lyrics during a contest held throughout the Maritimes by the Société nationale de l'Acadie in search of French lyrics. Out of respect for the original hymn, the first verse in the Acadian national anthem remains in Latin.
These are the lyrics, in French. The first verse is in Latin, and is repeated at the end of the hymn.
Ave Maris Stella Dei Mater Alma Atque Semper Virgo Felix Coeli Porta Felix Coeli Porta Acadie ma patrie À ton nom je me lie Ma vie, ma foi sont à toi Tu me protégeras Tu me protégeras Acadie ma patrie Ma terre et mon défi De près, de loin tu me tiens Mon cœur est acadien Mon cœur est acadien Acadie ma patrie Ton histoire je la vis La fierté je te la dois En l'Avenir je crois En l'Avenir je crois Ave Maris Stella Dei Mater Alma Atque Semper Virgo Felix Coeli Porta Felix Coeli Porta | Ave Maris Stella Dei Mater Alma Atque Semper Virgo Felix Coeli Porta Felix Coeli Porta Acadia my homeland To your name I draw myself My life, my faith belong to you You will protect me You will protect me Acadia my homeland My land and my challenge From near, from far you hold onto me My heart is Acadian My heart is Acadian Acadia my homeland I live your history I owe you my pride I believe in your future I believe in your future Ave Maris Stella Dei Mater Alma Atque Semper Virgo Felix Coeli Porta Felix Coeli Porta |
In popular culture[edit]
The song plays as an ambient theme for the Canadian civilization in Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). 'Ave Maris Stella' . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^Frauenlob's song of songs by Frauenlob, Barbara Newman, Karl Stackmann 2007 ISBN0-271-02925-0 page 100
- ^Cod. Vindob. 387, fol. 3v, has a fragmentary version written by a later hand (10th/11th century) in originally blank space
- ^Codex Sangallensis 95, p. 2, has a full version written by a later hand (10th/11th century) on originally blank space
- ^Reynolds, Brian. Gateway to heaven, New City Press, 2012, ISBN9781565484498, p. 194
- ^Brittain, F., Mediaeval Latin and Romance Lyric to A, Cambridge University Press, 1951, p. 79
- ^'Ave Maris Stella Prayer', International Marian Research Institute, University of Dayton
- ^Wood, David (2014-02-01). 'Gabhaim molta Bríde'. Song of the Isles. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ abLiber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983.
- ^Also spelled Hevæ.
- ^Thus in the original, see Te Decet Hymnus, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1984, p. 255 and Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983; Pope Urban VIII's 17th-century revision has preces here.
- ^Thus in Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983. Pope Urban VIII's text has Spiritui Sancto, Tribus honor unus.
- ^The word 'Hail' in Latin [Ave] is the reverse spelling of the Latin for 'Eve' [Eva].
- ^The Josquin companion: Volume 1 by Richard Sherr 2001 ISBN0-19-816335-5 Page 110
- ^ ab'What is the national Acadian anthem?', Acadian Museum of Prince Edward Island
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ave maris stella. |
Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
- Ave maris stella: Text, translations and list of free scores by several composers at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- 'Ave Maris Stella', Benedictine Monks of the Abbey at Ganagobie on YouTube
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