Product Description
This arrangement follows the original Bach prelude, excluding the extra measure Schwencke introduced in 1783. If you prefer the extra measure, please see Bach-Gounod: Ave Maria, Schwencke version for French Horn & Piano, S0.661839. The convenient 1st & 2nd endings provide an option for extended performance with minimal page turns for the accompanist. The duration with repeat is about 4:50. Score: 6 pages. Well suited for church meditations, school programs, or recital encores.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria is a Catholic prayer that asks the mother of Jesus (Mary) to intercede. Charles Gounod, a French Romantic composer, composed a famous version of the Ave Maria. He overlaid a new melody on an existing Bach chord progression. The progression is from Bachs Prelude No. 1 from Well-Tempered Clavier I. This version and Schuberts version have become essential items at weddings, masses, and funerals.
Bach Overview
First, Johann Sebastian Bach may be the greatest composer in music history. Certainly, he was prolific. As a result, everyone has heard of his works. Furthermore, these works number well over a thousand. People are probably most familiar with instrumental works such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations. But, similarly famous are such noteworthy works as the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and the Art of Fugue. His most famous vocal works seem to include the most noteworthy Mass in B Minor. Also, most noteworthy are the St. John Passion and certainly the Christmas Oratorio.
History
Bach came from a long line of musicians and, above all, composers. Consequently, he first of all pursued a career as a church organist. So, as a result, he gained employment in various Protestant churches in Germany. He worked as a court musician in Weimar and Köthen for a while. Here, he probably developed his organ style and, likewise, his chamber music style. Eventually, he gained an appointment as Cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig. Here, he worked until difficulties with his employer ultimately drove him away. The King of Poland finally appointed him as court composer.
Style
It seems like Bach created an engaging new international style. He synthesized elements of the most noteworthy European music ideas into his new style, which was probably his synthesis of European musical rhythm and form. Furthermore, he demonstrated a complete mastery of counterpoint and motivic development. His sense of harmonic organization probably propelled him to the top.
Revival
Mendelssohn conducted a Bach revival in the nineteenth century. His effort probably helped to re-familiarize the public with the magnitude of Bachs works. During this period, scholars published many noteworthy Bach biographies. Moreover, Wolfgang Schmieder published the BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis). As a result, this is now the official catalog of his entire artistic output. The BWV number allows us to locate a work in the catalog. Sometimes scholars will simply use an "S" (Schmieder) as an abbreviation for "BWV."
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.