Ave Maria (Schubert)
Ellens dritter Gesang (D839, Op 52 no 6, 1825), Ellens third song in English, composed by Franz Schubert in 1825, is arguably Schubert's today most popular work, and also the most misunderstood. The piece is often, erroneously, referred to as Schubert's Ave Maria, much due to the opening words of the song being the same of the classical christian prayer Hail Mary (in latin, Ave Maria), while Schubert originally set the piece to a poem taken from Walter Scott's popular work Lady of the Lake. The poem was translated into German by Adam Storck, whose translation was then used by Schubert as the lyrics of the piece. To further the misconception that Schubert wrote the song as a setting for the Ave Maria, the words of the prayer are frequently forced onto Schuberts original melody with moderate success, some parts are arguably strained a bit too much to fit the music, but still it has perhaps become the most frequently heard version of the song today.
The piece is said to have first been performed at the home of a Countess Sophie Weissenwolff, which led to her subsequently becoming known as the lady of the lake herself.
The words of Ellens dritter Gesang
Storck's translation used by Schubert
Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild
Soll mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft,
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen,
Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht.
Ave Maria!
Original text by Sir Walter Scott
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 guidence reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!