Post by cyberangel on Apr 4, 2014 13:13:39 GMT
I find it magnificent, how the tones and vibrations within a musical piece or song, can go far deeper than the actual words or meaning behind the piece. Take Franz Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’ for instance, the music is so gentle and yet so powerfully moving.
Now listen to it again with the added beautiful Latin language (below), I chose the Latin version because I love the way the language wraps itself around each note, which enhances an intensity to the harmonious rhapsody. Although these are not the words that the opus was originally composed for, the Catholic Church adapted the piece to their beautiful Prayer “Hail Mary” (more on that later on), it is nevertheless a beautiful version of the masterpiece by Schubert.
Translation from Latin to English
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! 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!
But the history behind the piece is so interesting and mostly forgotten. While travelling Franz Schubert came across and read Sir Walter Scott (a Scottish playwright and poet) poem "The Lady of the Lake" (it was translated into German) which is basically a story of poems as far as I can make out but within it is a prayer from a frightened girl and called “Ellen’s Song III” and it is on this poem that Schubert is rumored to have composed Ellens Gesang III D839, Op.52 No.6, SCO (Ave Maria) the prayer was not intended for church services but the music was so beautiful, so a latin version (above) was added so the piece could be included in church services.
Here is the original poem in English (although Schubert composed it based on the German translation):
Ave Maria! Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden’s prayer!
Thou canst hear though from the wild,
Thou canst save amid despair.
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,
Though banish’d, outcast and reviled -
Maiden! hear a maiden’s prayer;
Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria! Ave Maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch we now must share
Shall seem this down of eider piled,
If thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern’s heavy air
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;
Then, Maiden! hear a maiden’s prayer;
Mother, list a suppliant child!
Ave Maria! Ave Maria! stainless styled!
Foul demons of the earth and air,
From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee before thy presence fair.
We bow us to our lot of care,
Beneath thy guidance reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden’s prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!
I find it amazing to discover some of the histories and meanings behind some of the most famous and inspired music/songs. Anyway I have only given a brief history but it’s worth looking up for yourselves, and is an interesting find, indeed. ENJOY
Love and Light (and harmony)
Now listen to it again with the added beautiful Latin language (below), I chose the Latin version because I love the way the language wraps itself around each note, which enhances an intensity to the harmonious rhapsody. Although these are not the words that the opus was originally composed for, the Catholic Church adapted the piece to their beautiful Prayer “Hail Mary” (more on that later on), it is nevertheless a beautiful version of the masterpiece by Schubert.
Translation from Latin to English
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! 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!
But the history behind the piece is so interesting and mostly forgotten. While travelling Franz Schubert came across and read Sir Walter Scott (a Scottish playwright and poet) poem "The Lady of the Lake" (it was translated into German) which is basically a story of poems as far as I can make out but within it is a prayer from a frightened girl and called “Ellen’s Song III” and it is on this poem that Schubert is rumored to have composed Ellens Gesang III D839, Op.52 No.6, SCO (Ave Maria) the prayer was not intended for church services but the music was so beautiful, so a latin version (above) was added so the piece could be included in church services.
Here is the original poem in English (although Schubert composed it based on the German translation):
Ave Maria! Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden’s prayer!
Thou canst hear though from the wild,
Thou canst save amid despair.
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,
Though banish’d, outcast and reviled -
Maiden! hear a maiden’s prayer;
Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria! Ave Maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch we now must share
Shall seem this down of eider piled,
If thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern’s heavy air
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;
Then, Maiden! hear a maiden’s prayer;
Mother, list a suppliant child!
Ave Maria! Ave Maria! stainless styled!
Foul demons of the earth and air,
From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee before thy presence fair.
We bow us to our lot of care,
Beneath thy guidance reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden’s prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!
I find it amazing to discover some of the histories and meanings behind some of the most famous and inspired music/songs. Anyway I have only given a brief history but it’s worth looking up for yourselves, and is an interesting find, indeed. ENJOY
Love and Light (and harmony)
