FRANZ SCHUBERT Ellens Gesang III, Op. 52, No. 6

Vinson Cole, Tenor
Patrick Stephens, Piano
from the Delos recording Mysteries Beyond ℗ 1994 Delos

Our first recording for Delos was centered around a collection of Ave Marias. Since Schubert’s Ave Maria is probably the most famous, and since we had the great tenor Vinson Cole collaborating with us on the recording, we had to feature this beautiful work. But we decided to do it the way Schubert actually composed it: with an entirely different text. It was written in 1825 as part of seven songs set to texts from Walter Scott’s epic poem The Lady of the Lake, then translated into German. Below you will see the original text in German and English. I suppose the opening words and refrain (“Ave Maria”) led someone to adapt this song to the traditional Roman Catholic text in which form we almost always hear this song. But it’s nice once in a while to hear it as the composer wrote it. And, oh, does Vinson Cole sing this exquisitely – especially the last stanza which he does so quietly and with so much feeling!

– Dennis Keene

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 hin wehen.
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!

"Hymn to the Virgin" 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 with 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!