Ave Maria – song notes

Ave Maria (Hail, Mary) by Franz Schubert is one of his many exquisite musical gifts to the world.

This Ave Maria is a simple, moving piece which is universally known and loved, and was composed in about 1825 when Schubert was twenty-eight years old. That was only three years before his death at the young age of 31. It is part of a setting of several songs Schubert wrote for Sir Walter Scott’s “Lady of the Lake”.

According to Schubert, his friends were surprised that his Ave Maria has such a deeply devotional character. His comment was, “I think the reason for this is that I never force myself into devotion or compose hymns or prayers unless I am truly overpowered by the feeling; that alone is true devotion.”

MP3 – Ave Maria (Schubert)