Classical Music Work of the Week - August 22, 2005

Schubert's Ave Maria is undoubtedly one of the world's most well known art songs. It is commonly performed in all kinds of religious services and weddings. In fact, several months ago, my sister who knows little about classical music, wanted to walk down the aisle to Schubert's Ave Maria in her wedding. Prior to the wedding when she was picking out the music, she instantly picked the instrumental version of Schubert's Ave Maria. What is it about the song that makes it "perfect" for a wedding? I haven't quite figured that out yet.

Schubert's Ave Maria was composed in 1825. What's interesting about this art song is that the Ave Maria text isn't the original text set to the song by Schubert. He actually set Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake to the song. Schubert's Ave Maria was originally titled Ellens dritter Gesang or Ellen's Third Song. This particular part of the poem focuses on the heroine's (Ellen Douglas) hiding and prayers to the Virgin Mary, which makes many references to the Ave Maria prayer. The person responsible for setting the Ave Maria text remains a mystery to this day.

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