"Ave Maria" is a popular and much-recorded musical adaptation by Charles Gounod of the 1st Prelude (BWV 846) by Johann Sebastian Bach, set to the Latin text "Ave Maria", originally published in 1859 by Jacques Léopold Heugel, under the title "Mélodie religieuse adaptée au 1er prélude de J.S. Bach".
First performed by Marie Caroline Miolan-Carvalho on May 24, 1859
The piece consists of a melody by the French Romantic composer Charles Gounod especially designed to be superimposed over the Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, from Book I of J.S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, written 137 years earlier.
In 1722 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) published Book I of The Well Tempered Clavier.
The first piece in that collection is the “Prelude in C major”, BWV 846, (Praeludium #1)
Here's Bach's autograph of Praeludium #1 from 1722
But even before that Bach had written down an early version of Praeludium #1 in his oldest son's notebook
Here's the early version from Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Studied by all piano students since Bach’s time. The 35 measures of the Prelude consist of 34 measures of 16-th-note arpeggios followed by one measure containing a single whole-note C-major chord. The work is characterized by richly inventive harmony; and by frequent dissonance, including minor-second intervals.
Between 1933 and 1936 the first complete recording of all the 48 preludes and fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier was made on the piano by Edwin Fischer.
(c) Edwin Fischer (1933) (as "Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major (C Dur)")
Recorded September 12, 1933 in Abbey Road Studios in London
Released on His Master's Voice D.B.2079
Listen here:
But already in 1931 Arnold Dolmetsch tried to record the complete Well-Tempered Clavier.
He only recorded 2 of 48 pieces, which were released on a Columbia disc.
(o) Arnold Dolmetsch (1932) (as "Prelude and Fugue in C ")
Recorded around January 1931 in London ?
Released on Columbia DB 505.
Listen here:
Around 1850 Charles Gounod improvised the Bach melody, and his future father-in-law Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmermann transcribed the improvisation and in 1853 made an arrangement for violin (or cello) with piano and harmonium. This was published in 1853 as "Méditation sur le 1er Prélude de piano de S. Bach".
Here's a complete sheet version from a few years later
The same year it appeared with the words of Alphonse de Lamartine's poem "Le livre de la vie" ("The Book of Life").
Lamartine had composed this poem as a gift for a young woman admirer. Gounod selected it as the text for his "Meditation", and sent a copy as a gift to a married woman, Rosalie Jousset (1838-1863). Rosalie was a beautiful singer, and Gounod’s student. Gounod's letter containing the music was intercepted by Rosalie’s mother-in-law, Aurélie Jousset, who felt that the sentiment was inappropriate. She sent the music back to Gounod with an alternate text written beneath Lamartine’s words, namely, the words of the "Ave Maria" a traditional Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the "Blessed Virgin Mary", the mother of Jesus.
The first part of this prayer, the Scriptural part, is taken from the Gospel of St. Luke and joins together the words of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28) together with Elizabeth's greeting to Mary at the Visitation (Luke 1:42)
Later, probably by Pope Urban IV around the year 1262, Jesus' name was inserted at the end of the two passages.
"Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus".
The second half of the prayer ("Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis nunc et in hora mortis nostrae") can be traced back to the 15th Century in a Roman Breviary
The current form of the prayer became the standard form sometime in the 16th century and was included in the reformed Breviary promulgated by Pope St. Pius V in 1568.
Gounod took the hint, and adopted Aurélie Jousset’s suggestion. The first edition of the song with the “Ave Maria” text is dated 1859. (see Sheetmusic at the top of this post)
Gounod considered "Ave Maria" to be an insignificant part of his life's work, not important enough to mention in his autobiography. Truly, "Ave Maria" seems a minor effort compared to works such as the opera Faust. After all, it is a short work, with only the melody being Gounod’s. The accompaniment and harmonic structure are Bach’s, and some of the additional voicing embodied in the organ part may have been worked out by Zimmerman. Finally, as mentioned above, the idea to use "Ave Maria" as the text for the song belonged not to Gounod, but to Aurélie Jousset.
In 1898 the first recorded versions began to be released.
(o) W.D. McFarland (1898) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 1898.
Released on Berliner Disc #1917
(c) Gertrude Silva (1898) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded between 1897/1899 in New York
Released on Bettini Cylinder #12
(c) Louise de Brelor (1898) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded between 1898/1899 in New York
Released on Bettini Cylinder # 16
Listen here: www.phonobase.org/audio/AA-CD01aCD99/CD69_05.mp3
(c) Rosalia Chalia (1899) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded between 1898/1899 in New York
Released on Bettini Cylinder # 39
On December 4, 1900 Rosalio recorded another version
Released on Victor 550 and 660
And in 1901 she recorded yet another version in New York
Released on Zonophone 9205
(c) M.A. Guarini (1899) (as "Ave Maria")
Released on Edison # 7287
(c) M.A. Guarini (1900) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded August 1900 in New York City
Released on Edison 12073
(c) Miss Helen Jenynge (1899) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded March 7, 1899
Released on Berliner 3676
(c) Frederick Hager (1899) (as "Ave Maria")
Violin solo
Released on a Edison Brown Wax Cylinder # 6701.
(c) Sgra. Ida Sambo (1900) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Milan in January 1900
Released on Zonophone 490
Reissued on Zonophone X-438
(c) Charles D'Almaine (1900) (as "Ave Maria")
Violin solo
Recorded February 16, 1900
Released on Berliner 0971
(o) Mary Boyer (1900?) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded around 1900 in France
Released on Pathe Cylinder # 813.
And Pathe Disque # 813
Around 1903/1904 Mary Boyer recorded another version in Paris
Released on Pathe Celeste Cylinder # 3922
(c) Karel (Carl) Berckmans (1901) (as "Ave Maria")
Tenor with Amsterdamsche Lyrische Opera.
Recorded September 1901 in Amsterdam
Matrix 976B
Released on G&T 52265
(c) Giuseppina Huguet (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 1902 in Barcelona
Matrix 7188F
Released on G&T 53260
(c) Antonio Vargas (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded April 1902 in New York City
Released on Edison Gold Moulded 2 minute cylinder # 12216
Or here:
(c) Charlotte Marie (Pauline) Agussol (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded Autumn 1902 in Paris
Released on Zonophone X-1990
In January 1903 she re-recorded "Ave Maria" in Paris
Released on Zonophone X-1242
And in 1904 she re-recorded the song again in Paris for the Odeon-label.
Released on Odeon 33451.
(c) Blanca Del Carmen (Pilar Calvera) ) (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded medio 1902 in Berlin
Released on Zonophone 11159
(c) Alice Guszalewicz (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded 1902 in Vienna
Released on Zonophone X-1639, X-23005
(c) M. Delcroix (1901 ?) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Brussels ?
Released on Columbia Cylinder #37406
Listen here www.phonobase.org/audio/AD-2014/2014_7721.mp3
(c) Paul Aumonier (1902/1903) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Paris 1902/1903
Released on Columbia Cylinder 26280
(c) Emilia Ivanovna Kristman (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
(violin: J J Kristman)
Recorded in St Petersburg 1902
Matrix 309z
Released on G&T 23190 and also on Victor 5044, 91035
Emilia Ivanovna Kristman recorded it again in St Petersburg 1903
Released on Columbia 35121
(c) Henri Dons (1902) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded early 1902 in Paris
Matrix # 782F
Released on G&T # 2-32509
(c) Albert Vaguet (1902/1903) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Paris
Matrix 28667
Released on Pathe Cylinder # 3672
Listen here:
(c) Elsa Hensel-Schweitzer (1903) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded 1903 in Frankfurt am Main
Matrix 1171Z
Released on G&T 43468
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Roberto Vanni (1903 ?) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in New York
Released on Zonophone 9619
(c) Jean Noté (1904) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Paris in 1904
Matrix 2666-F
Released on G&T 3-32122
(c) Louis Verstraeten (1903/1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Bruxelles.
Released on Pathe 9506 and 50068
(c) Hedwig Zimmer (1904) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Berlin in 1904
Released on Columbia 40572
Also released on Columbia D 3038 (in France)
Listen here: AVE MARIA - Hedwig Zimmer - Maestro Adolf Sens.mp3
(c) Prof. (Alessandro) Moreschi (1904) (as "Ave Maria")
Cantore della Cappella Sistina, Roma
Recorded April 1904 in Roma.
Matrix 2187h Ave Maria (Gounod)
Released on G&T 52045, 54777
Or here:
(c) Giannina Russ (1904) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded October 1904 in Milan
Matrix xPh 36-2
Giannina Russ (soprano), Alessandro Genesini (vn). …?… (org). …?… (p).
Released on Fonotipia 39046
On September 26, 1906 she re-recorded a version which was released on the same label-number
Matrix xPh 2065
Giannina Russ (soprano), Alessandro Genesini (vn). …?… (org). …?… (p).
Listen here: AveMariaRuss39046/Ave Maria Russ 39046.mp3
(c) Nellie Melba and Jan Kubelik (1904) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded October 20, 1904 in London
Matrix 401-c
Released on G&T 3033
Or here:
(c) Maria Alexandrowna Michailowa (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded 1905 in St. Petersburg.
Matrix 2850-l
Or here:
(c) Florence Hayward (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded January 30, 1905
Released on Victor 4251
Listen here: Ave Maria - Florence Hayward - Bach - Gounod.mp3
Or here:
(c) Emma Eames (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded February 20, 1905 in New York
Released on Victor 85054
Listen here:
(c) Romeo Berti (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in 1905 in Milan
Released on Columbia D 4021
Listen here: cusb_col_10526_01_10526_01.wav
(c) Emma Albani (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in 1905 in London
Released on Pathe 50331
(c) Alma Hulting (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded December 1905 in Stockholm
Matrix 946-o
Released on Favorite 1-86025
(c) Henry De Bruyne, Cornelis Liégeois and Auguste Delacroix (1906)
(as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in 1906 in Paris
Released on Grammophon #11480
Listen here: https://russian-records.com/data/media/463/28055.mp3
(c) Lilli Lehmann (1906) (as "Ave Maria")
Lilli Lehmann (soprano). …?… (fl). Fritz Lindemann (p)
Recorded July 20, 1906 in Berlin
Released on Odeon X 50096
(c) Mme. Marcelle Demougeot (1905) (as "Ave Maria")
Matrix 1410-f
Recorded in July 1905 in Paris
Released on Favorite 1-6003
Or here
(c) Mme. Marcelle Demougeot (1906) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in 1906 in Paris
Matrix 5854
Released on Zonophone X-83149
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Alessandro Bonci (1906) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 7, 1906 in Milan
Matrix XPh2699
Released on Fonotipia 92104
Listen here:
(c) Regina Pacini (soprano). …?… (vn). …?… (p) (1906) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded August 31, 1906 in Milan
Matrix xPH 2062-2
Released on Fonotipia X 39775
Listen here:
(c) Lise Landouzy (1906) (as "Ave Maria")
Lise Landouzy (soprano). Fernand Landouzy (vc). …?… (p).
Recorded September 1906 in Paris.
Matrix xPh 2789
Released on Odeon X 56032
Listen here: Landouzy Lise - Odeon X56032.mp3
(c) Berthe Auguez de Montalant (1907) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded 1907 in Paris
Matrix 5112H
Released on G&T 33649
(c) Hans Kronold (1907) (as "Ave Maria")
Released on Edison Gold Moulded Records #9477
Listen here
(c) Margarete Leux (1907) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded August 31, 1907 in Berlin
Released on Homocord M 900
(c) Betsy Schot (1907) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded August 31, 1907 in Berlin
Released on Homokord 932 and Homophon 932
(c) Georg Maikl (1908) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorde June 1908 in Vienna
Matrix 2487-t
Released on Favorite 1-25284
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Lucienne Garchery (1908) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded June 1, 1908 in Paris
Released on Odeon 60806
Listen here DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Gertrud Runge (1908/1909) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Leipzig
Released on Kalliope 1521, Melodia 15210, Sport 15211 and Regent 1521
Listen here DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Emmy Destinn (1909) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in 1909 in Berlin
Released on Odeon X 99430
(c) Eugenie Bronskaja (1910) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded April 21, 1910 in New York
Released on Columbia A 5193
Columbia matrix 30472. Ave Maria / Eugenie Bronskaja - Discography of American Historical Recordings
(c) Celestina Boninsegna (1910) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded December 1910 in Milan
Released on Pathe 84346
Listen here: www.phonobase.org/audio/AC-2010/2011_4702.mp3
(c) Marie Rappold and Albert Spalding (1911) (as "Ave Maria")
Released on Edison 4 Minute Amberol # 28005
Reissued in 1912 on Edison Blue Amberol # 28106
Listen here: www.cylindermusic.com/bgawebs/ebay/28106h.mp3
Or here
(c) Eugenia Burzio (1911) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded 1911 in Milan
Matrix 11052
Released on Columbia D8076
(c) Ottilie Metzger (1911) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded October 1911 in Berlin
Released on Parlophon P 1050
(c) Adolphe Neuri (1913) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded early 1913 in Berlin
Released on Beka B-3536
(c) Alma Gluck (1913) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded March 8, 1913 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victrola 88433
Listen here:
Also released on Victor 89091
Listen here: Ave Maria - Alma Gluck - Efrem Zimbalist.mp3
(c) Hedwig Francillo-Kauffmann (1913) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded late 1913 in Berlin
Released on Anker E 9956
(c) Léon Campagnola (1914) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded January 7, 1914 in Paris
Matrix 02878-v
Released on Gramophone 32307
(c) Paula Weber (1919) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded September 16, 1919 in Berlin
Released on Artiphon Record # 608
Listen here Paula Weber Artiphon 608.mp3
(c) Felix Silbers (1921) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 1921
Released on Vox #6008
Listen here:
(c) Maria Philippi (1922) (as "Ave Maria")
Reorded October 1922
Released on Vox # 02097
(c) Grete Mancke (1923) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 23, 1923 in Berlin
Released on Parlophon P-1586
Listen here: ave-maria/Mancke Ave Maria.mp3
(c) Ninon Vallin (1925) (as "Ave Maria")
Accompanied by Yvonne Curty and Lily Laskine on violon and harp.
Recorded October 22, 1925
Matrix 3141X
Released on Pathe 3118.
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Rosa Ponselle (1926) (as "Ave Maria")
Violin Obligato ; Alexander Schmidt
Recorded May 19, 1926 in New York
Released on Victor 6599 and Victrola 6599
Listen here:
(c) Maria Basilides (1928) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 7, 1928 in Berlin
Matrix 2-21066
Released on Parlophon P 9474-1
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Lotte Lehmann (1928) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded November 10, 1928
Released on Odeon O-4802
Listen here: lottelehmannleague.org/odeon_o4802_01_be7174_00d.mp3
Or here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
Or here:
(c) Dajos Bela Trio (1929) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded October 8, 1929 in Berlin
Released on Odeon O-2980
(c) Nada Kejrova (1930) (as "Zdravas Maria")
Recorded February 1930 in Prague
Matrix Ze 2246
Released on Odeon A 186758
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Jo Vincent (1930) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded in Central Hall Westminster, London
Matrix FX 215
Released on Columbia D 17211 (The Netherlands)
And on Columbia 11805 (UK)
Listen here:
(c) Gracie Fields (1935) (as "Ave Maria")
Gracie Fields (vocals) and Herbert Dawson (organ)
Recorded October 25, 1934 in Kingsway Hall, London
Released on HMV C-2705
Re-issued on Regal Zonophone MR 1917
Listen here:
(c) Beniamino Gigli (1936) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded May 24, 1936 in Berlin
Released on Electrola DA 1488
Also released in the UK on HMV D.A. 1488
Featured in 1936 movie "Ave Maria" Ave Maria (1936 film) - Wikipedia
Listen here:
(c) Herbert Ernst Groh (1936) (as "Ave Maria")
Deutsches Opernhaus Berlin-Charlottenburg (chorus) and the Odeon - Kammer-Orchester
Musical direction Otto Dobrindt.
Recorded June 25, 1936 in Berlin
Released on Odeon O-25789 a and A-241431
Listen here: DISMARC - Metastore - Detail view
(c) Tino Rossi (1938) (as "Ave Maria")
Orchestre: M. Marcel Cariven
From the film "Lumières de Paris"
Released on Columbia BF 41
Listen here:
(c) Deanne Durbin (1938) (as "Ave Maria")
From the film "Mad About Music"
Recorded April 5, 1939 in Los Angeles
Released on Brunswick 02804
Listen here
(c) Richard Tauber (1939) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded April 20, 1939, Abbey Road Studios, St. John's Wood, London
Released on Parlophone RO 20452
Listen here: Parlophone RO-20452 | richard-tauber.de
Or here:
(c) Don Cossack Chorus (Serge Jaroff conductor) (1941) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded March 21, 1941 in USA
Released on Columbia 4278-M
(c) Mario Lanza (1951) (as "Ave Maria")
In the movie "The Great Caruso".
Listen here:
(c) Zarah Leander (1953) (as "Ave Maria")
In the movie "Ave Maria" (1953)
Watch it here:
Before the release of the movie a 78 RPM disc was released to promote the movie
Listen here:
(c) Rudolf Schock (1955) (as "Ave Maria")
Listen here:
(c) Mieke Telkamp (1957) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded at the Grote Kerk in Naarden.
Listen here:
(c) Shirley Bassey (1962) (as "Ave Maria")
No.31 in the UK Charts
Listen here:
(c) Barbra Streisand (1966) (as "Ave Maria")
Listen here
(c) David Garrick (1967) (as "Ave Maria")
No. 28 in the Dutch Charts
"
Listen here:
(c) Procol Harum (1967)
(after 2 minutes and 17 seconds in the song "Repent Walpurgis")
Listen here:
(c) Robert Long & Unit Gloria (1970) (in a medley with "Silent Night")
Listen here:
Or here:
(c) Ekseption (1971) (as "Ave Maria")
No. 24 in the Dutch Charts
Listen here
(c) Nana Mouskouri (1972) (as "Ave Maria")
Listen here:
(c) Carpenters (1978) (as "Ave Maria")
Listen here:
(c) Rainbow (1980) (as "Weiss Heim")
In 1980 Ritchie Blackmore's group Rainbow recorded the song "Weiss Heim", which incorporates the "Ave Maria" tune, especially in the dying seconds of the song.
"Weiss Heim" was recorded in Copenhagen in January 1980, as the B-side to "All Night Long".
Listen here
(c) Celine Dion (1987) (as "Ave Maria")
Recorded live at Christmas Eve, in 1987, during the show "Les demons du midi", in Canada
Watch it here:
(c) Maurane (1991) (as "Sur Un Prélude De Bach")
Released in 1991 on the next album
Became a hit in France in 1993
Listen here:
(c) Lesley Garrett & Amanda Thompson (1993) (as "Ave Maria")
No. 16 in the UK Charts
Listen here
(c) Noa (1994) (as "Ave Maria")
Listen here
(c) Jewel (1999) (as "Ave Maria")
Listen here
MORE VERSIONS HERE:
