Daily Ave Marias for May
The month of May has long been associated with devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Every day this May, we share with our visitors some of our favourite recordings of the traditional prayer, Ave Maria ('Hail Mary'). Some will be familiar to you, others may be less so. We hope you enjoy them!
Note: because our visitors live in different time zones, we put each piece of music up a day in advance.
The month of May has long been associated with devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Every day this May, we share with our visitors some of our favourite recordings of the traditional prayer, Ave Maria ('Hail Mary'). Some will be familiar to you, others may be less so. We hope you enjoy them!
Note: because our visitors live in different time zones, we put each piece of music up a day in advance.
May 19th
No one really knows who wrote this Ave Maria – mainly because the setting didn’t come to light until the twentieth century. The piece was unknown before the 1970s. Many argue that its creator was, in fact, one Vladimir Vavilov, a relatively unknown Russian guitarist and composer, who recorded it in 1972 and declared it to be an anonymous song. The attribution to Caccini was then supposedly made at a later date by a musician who performed with Vavilov. Whatever the truth, it’s certain that this simple melody is beloved by many. Click here to hear it sung by the wonderful Latvian soprano, Inese Galante in one of New Pilgrim Path's favourite renditions.
No one really knows who wrote this Ave Maria – mainly because the setting didn’t come to light until the twentieth century. The piece was unknown before the 1970s. Many argue that its creator was, in fact, one Vladimir Vavilov, a relatively unknown Russian guitarist and composer, who recorded it in 1972 and declared it to be an anonymous song. The attribution to Caccini was then supposedly made at a later date by a musician who performed with Vavilov. Whatever the truth, it’s certain that this simple melody is beloved by many. Click here to hear it sung by the wonderful Latvian soprano, Inese Galante in one of New Pilgrim Path's favourite renditions.
May 18th
Today, we feature our first Ave Maria sung in a stairwell! The performers are an American a capella quartet, Kings Return.
Click here to listen.
Today, we feature our first Ave Maria sung in a stairwell! The performers are an American a capella quartet, Kings Return.
Click here to listen.
May 17th
Today, we have a variation on the traditional Ave Maria. Josquin des Prez was a French composer of High Renaissance music. A central figure of the Franco-Flemish School, Josquin is considered among the greatest composers of the Renaissance and had a profound influence on the music of 16th-century Europe. His Ave Maria Virgo Serena motet was one of the most famous pieces of the 15th Century. It is sung here by the British ensemble, Stile Antico.
Today, we have a variation on the traditional Ave Maria. Josquin des Prez was a French composer of High Renaissance music. A central figure of the Franco-Flemish School, Josquin is considered among the greatest composers of the Renaissance and had a profound influence on the music of 16th-century Europe. His Ave Maria Virgo Serena motet was one of the most famous pieces of the 15th Century. It is sung here by the British ensemble, Stile Antico.
May 16th
British composer, Robert Prizeman, composed the theme music for BBC's Songs of Praise, and was music director to the programme for many years. His exquisite Ave Maria is performed here by Finnish ensemble, Lauluyhtye Luminos.
British composer, Robert Prizeman, composed the theme music for BBC's Songs of Praise, and was music director to the programme for many years. His exquisite Ave Maria is performed here by Finnish ensemble, Lauluyhtye Luminos.
May 15th
This Ave Maria is a popular and much-recorded setting of the Latin prayer. The piece consists of a melody by the French Romantic composer, Charles Gounod, that he superimposed over an only very slightly changed version of Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, from Book I of his The Well-Tempered Clavier, 1722. Click here to hear it sung by the Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli.
This Ave Maria is a popular and much-recorded setting of the Latin prayer. The piece consists of a melody by the French Romantic composer, Charles Gounod, that he superimposed over an only very slightly changed version of Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, from Book I of his The Well-Tempered Clavier, 1722. Click here to hear it sung by the Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli.
May 18th
This Ave Maria was once attributed to the late Renaissance Italian composer, Giulio Caccini but is now ascribed to 20th century Russian composer, Vladimir Vavilov. Here is an extended (one hour) instrumental version played by cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber. Beautiful background music for prayer or meditation!
This Ave Maria was once attributed to the late Renaissance Italian composer, Giulio Caccini but is now ascribed to 20th century Russian composer, Vladimir Vavilov. Here is an extended (one hour) instrumental version played by cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber. Beautiful background music for prayer or meditation!
May 12th
A glorious Ave Maria today by the undisputed giant of 16th century polyphonic music, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. It is done justice here by choral ensemble, The Sixteen, who are renowned for their interpretation of Renaissance polyphony.
A glorious Ave Maria today by the undisputed giant of 16th century polyphonic music, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. It is done justice here by choral ensemble, The Sixteen, who are renowned for their interpretation of Renaissance polyphony.
May 11th
Antonio José, in his short life, wrote extensively for voice in his quest to present the melodies of his native Burgos to the world. He was executed at the age of 33 by a Falangist firing squad in 1936. His Ave Maria is sung here by a Basque choir, the Coro Ametsa de Irun.
Antonio José, in his short life, wrote extensively for voice in his quest to present the melodies of his native Burgos to the world. He was executed at the age of 33 by a Falangist firing squad in 1936. His Ave Maria is sung here by a Basque choir, the Coro Ametsa de Irun.
May 10th
A very contemporary treatment of Ave Maria by American composer, Cary Boyce, can be heard here, performed by the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble.
A very contemporary treatment of Ave Maria by American composer, Cary Boyce, can be heard here, performed by the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble.
May 9th
For today's Ave Maria, we turn to French composer, Camille Saint-Saëns, whose exquisite Ave Maria is sung here by the treble voices of the Wells Cathedral Choir.
For today's Ave Maria, we turn to French composer, Camille Saint-Saëns, whose exquisite Ave Maria is sung here by the treble voices of the Wells Cathedral Choir.
May 8th
Today's Ave Maria is sung here in the Irish language by the Irish duo, Adhru..
Today's Ave Maria is sung here in the Irish language by the Irish duo, Adhru..
May 7th
Today's Ave Maria is by Lajos Bárdos (1899-1986), Hungarian composer, conductor, music theorist, and professor of music at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, in Budapest. His compositions drew on Renaissance polyphony and Hungarian folk music, following in the tradition of Bartók and Kodály. His dramatic Ave Maria is sung here by Vox Hungarica.
Today's Ave Maria is by Lajos Bárdos (1899-1986), Hungarian composer, conductor, music theorist, and professor of music at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, in Budapest. His compositions drew on Renaissance polyphony and Hungarian folk music, following in the tradition of Bartók and Kodály. His dramatic Ave Maria is sung here by Vox Hungarica.
May 6th
Today, we feature a remarkable Ave Maria by Tudor composer, Robert Parsons (1535-1572). He is especially noted for his choral motets, and he is recognised as a master of polyphonic writing for choirs, most notably this setting of Ave Maria, sung here by the world-renowned vocal ensemble, The Sixteen.
Today, we feature a remarkable Ave Maria by Tudor composer, Robert Parsons (1535-1572). He is especially noted for his choral motets, and he is recognised as a master of polyphonic writing for choirs, most notably this setting of Ave Maria, sung here by the world-renowned vocal ensemble, The Sixteen.
May 5th
Sir Karl Jenkins is one of the most performed living composers in the world. His Ave Maria is performed here by the choral group Polyphony, directed by Stephen Layton.
Sir Karl Jenkins is one of the most performed living composers in the world. His Ave Maria is performed here by the choral group Polyphony, directed by Stephen Layton.
May 3rd
Soaring Ave Marie by Gustav Mahler, which achieved widespread fame as the theme music for Luchino Visconti's 1971 film, Death in Venice.
Sung here, as in the film, by New College Choir, Oxford.
Soaring Ave Marie by Gustav Mahler, which achieved widespread fame as the theme music for Luchino Visconti's 1971 film, Death in Venice.
Sung here, as in the film, by New College Choir, Oxford.
May 2nd
American composer, Daniel Kantor's is an interesting setting which begins with the traditional chant Ave Maria which is then superimposed on a contemporary English language setting of the Hail Mary. It's similar to the way in which Gounod took the J. S. Bach Prelude and superimposed upon it the Ave Maria that is now so familiar to us.
American composer, Daniel Kantor's is an interesting setting which begins with the traditional chant Ave Maria which is then superimposed on a contemporary English language setting of the Hail Mary. It's similar to the way in which Gounod took the J. S. Bach Prelude and superimposed upon it the Ave Maria that is now so familiar to us.
May 1st
Our first piece of music for May is not an Ave Maria at all but for many is inextricably linked with the first day of May. "Bring Flowers of the Rarest", is sung by the late, great Irish tenor, Frank Patterson. Listen here.
Our first piece of music for May is not an Ave Maria at all but for many is inextricably linked with the first day of May. "Bring Flowers of the Rarest", is sung by the late, great Irish tenor, Frank Patterson. Listen here.