Ave Maria

The Story Behind Ave Maria

The well-known hymn "Ave Maria" actually originates from "Ellen's Third Song", a song written by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Op. 52, a setting of seven songs from Sir Walter Scott's famous classic poem The Lady of the Lake.

Now one of Schubert’s most popular works, ‘Ave Maria’ has been performed by many artists, with lyrics that somewhat vary from the original poem. Ave Maria is 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. "Ave Maria" was composed in three variants for piano by Franz Liszt.

Since the creation of the "Ave Maria" inspired by Schubert's song, it is common to use the hymn's melody as a backdrop for the full text of the traditional Roman Catholic prayer "Ave Maria". The Latin version of the "Ave Maria" is now so commonly used with Schubert's song that it has led to the misunderstanding that he first wrote the tune as a melody for the "Ave Maria".

Find contemporary performances of Ave Maria in the videos below! 

Collection of Popular Hymns and Carols:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The First Noel
Joy To The World
O Holy Night
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
Go Tell It On The Mountain
What Child Is This
O Little Town of Bethlehem
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Ave Maria