„Ellens dritter Gesang“ („Ellens Gesang III“, D. 839, Op. 52, No. 6, 1825), in English: „Ellen’s Third Song“, was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Op. 52, a setting of seven songs from Walter Scott’s popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, loosely translated into German.
It is one of Schubert’s most popular works. Beyond the song as originally composed by Schubert, it is often performed and recorded by many singers under the title „Ave Maria“ (the Latin name of the prayer Hail Mary, and also the opening words and refrain of Ellen’s song, a song which is itself a prayer to the Virgin Mary), in musically simplified arrangements and with various lyrics that commonly differ from the original context of the poem. It was arranged in three versions for piano by Franz Liszt.
Alongside Schubert’s Ave Maria, the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria has become a fixture at wedding masses, funerals and quinceañeras. There are many different instrumental arrangements including for violin and guitar, string quartet, piano solo, cello, and even trombones. Performers, such as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Anna Moffo, José Carreras, Andre Rieu, Bobby McFerrin, Celtic Woman as well as choirs have recorded it hundreds of times during the twentieth century. Jackie Evancho sang it on AGT Finals. It’s also in Hayley Westenra’s album, River of Dreams.

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Maria, gratia plena,
Ave, Ave, Dominus,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris (tui),
Ventris tui, Jesus.
Ave Maria!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Ora, ora pro nobis;
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Nunc et in hora mortis,
In hora mortis nostrae.
In hora, hora mortis nostrae,
In hora mortis nostrae.
Ave Maria!

Hail Mary, full of grace,
Mary, full of grace,
Mary, full of grace,
Hail, Hail, the Lord
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed,
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Thy womb, Jesus.
Hail Mary!

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Pray, pray for us;
Pray for us sinners,
Now, and at the hour of our death,
The hour of our death.
The hour, the hour of our death,
The hour of our death.
Hail Mary!

bright light 💡

Sapperlot

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