description Ave Maria, D. 839 Overview
Ave Maria, D. 839, is an art song composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 for solo voice and piano. Its original text is Adam Storck's German translation of a prayer sung by Ellen in Walter Scott's narrative poem The Lady of the Lake, so it was not conceived as a setting of the Latin liturgical prayer. The melody later became widely performed with the Latin Ave Maria text and in numerous instrumental arrangements.
help Ave Maria, D. 839 FAQ
Why did Franz Schubert compose Ave Maria, D. 839?
Schubert composed the piece in 1825 as a musical setting for a German translation of Walter Scott's epic poem, The Lady of the Lake. It was originally written to represent a prayer spoken by the character Ellen Douglas.
Is Schubert's Ave Maria a religious piece?
Surprisingly, it was not originally composed as a liturgical setting. Despite its heavy association with the Catholic prayer, it began as a secular art song based on romantic literature.
What are the original lyrics to Schubert's Ave Maria?
The original lyrics are a German translation of Ellen's prayer from Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. The famous Latin Catholic prayer text was actually adapted to Schubert's melody years later.
When was Ave Maria, D. 839 written?
Schubert composed this famous lied in the year 1825. It was later published in 1826 as part of his Opus 52 collection.
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