Today, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, seems a good day for one of the beautiful musical treatments of the greatest of Marian Prayers, the Hail Mary (in Latin, Ave Maria). Schubert's soaring composition is the best known of these; the setting known as the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria (see clip below), while perhaps less dramatic, is no less beautiful, and perhaps even more powerful.
The music was originally an improvisation on a Bach Prelude from The Well-Tempered Clavier by 19th Century French composer Charles Gounod. Like Schubert's piece, it first appeared as a secular song; the Latin words to the Ave Maria were fitted to the music later on. And like Schubert's piece, the connection with Mary's prayer has given the music a sort of immortality. I invite you to enjoy the clip below, in which soprano Diana Damrau sings the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria. It's a fitting way to celebrate this feast of the Motherhood of Mary in the Season of Christmas.
(also, please see my post at Principium et Finis: "8th Day of Christmas - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God")
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