Ave Maria - Bach ??

[pianoplunker]

Hi,
I went to a gospel music show and one of the songs they sang was Ave Maria, but the music was done with Bach's Prelude in C . Melody was different, still sounded beautiful. I had to ask about it and the people near me seemed to act as if that is a standard way of playing that song. When I mentioned I like the original from Schubert they looked at me sort of puzzled . Is the Bach prelude actually considered a standard accompiment for this different version of it ? 

[andrewuk]

It was probably the arrangement by Gounod:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_%28Bach/Gounod%29

[iansinclair]

I might add that there are a number of "versions" of the Ave Maria -- since it is a standard Christian anthem.  Any number of composers have had a hand at writing music for it -- with widely varying degrees of success.

[quantum]

Ave Maria is the name of the text.  As Ian points out, this text has been set to music by numerous composers.  The Schubert D839 and the Bach/Gounod are two of the most recognizable examples, however there are many many more. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary

[j_menz]

I seem to recall that the Schubert was not originally a setting of the liturgical Ave Maria but merely shares the name.

It would appear that the use of the liturgical text with it is a more recent phenomenon, and not Schubert's idea at all.

[andrewuk]

I seem to recall that the Schubert was not originally a setting of the liturgical Ave Maria but merely shares the name.

You're right: the Schubert song was written as a setting of a poem by Sir Walter Scott.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_(Schubert)

[pianoplunker]

You're right: the Schubert song was written as a setting of a poem by Sir Walter Scott.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_(Schubert)

So I have learned something new. What we basically have is not different versions of a song but rather entirely different songs that share the same name. It hadnt occured to me to check out wikipedia so thanks for all the links and info

[quantum]

What we basically have is not different versions of a song but rather entirely different songs that share the same name.

This is the case with a lot of texts that have origins in church. 

[hfmadopter]

One thing I can tell you is that the Bach/ Gounod version is a lot easier to learn than the Schubert/ Liszt transcription. I mean a lot easier !

[iansinclair]

This is the case with a lot of texts that have origins in church. 

One needs to keep in mind with sacred music that the range of texts -- particularly in earlier music -- is quite limited.  This is particularly true if one is setting portions of the Ordinary of a service, or one of the antiphons (such as the Ave Maria or the Nunc Dimittis-- which has a really gorgeous setting by Gretchaninoff).  The text is the text.  It is what the composer does with it that is fascinating, and sometimes produces really stunning music (and, I regret to say, sometimes not...)

They are NOT songs.

[quantum]

One needs to keep in mind with sacred music that the range of texts -- particularly in earlier music -- is quite limited. 

One should also keep in mind the functional purpose such limited texts may have within liturgical celebrations.  Similar to spoken liturgical texts, there can be reason behind repetition of select material.  Perhaps, as such in other musical forms, limitation provides fertile ground for creativity. 

It is what the composer does with it that is fascinating

Indeed.

They are NOT songs.

What exactly do you mean by this?