This ever-popular piece is often performed at weddings, funerals and many other solemn ceremonial events. It has always been a favorite among instrumental players and often used in recitals or concert encores. In 1853, the well-known French composer Charles Gounod added his own melody over a rippling keyboard accompaniment which was a slightly adapted version of the Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV846, from Book I of J. S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, published in 1722. The title of the ?combined? piece was Méditation sur le Premier Prélude de Piano de S. Bach. Gounod?s original arrangement transposed Bach?s keyboard part from C major into F major and it was scored for violin (or cello), organ and piano. In 1859, the French music publishing company Jacques-Léopold Heugel brought out a vocal version based on the familiar Latin text. Ave Maria (Hail Mary) is a traditional Catholic prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The version of Bach's prelude which Gounod used included the so-called "Schwencke measure" (m. 27 in this arrangement), a measure (bar) allegedly added by the German composer and pianist Christian Friedrich Gottlieb Schwencke (1767-1822) in an attempt to correct what was considered a harmonic weakness in the original. Whether there actually was a ?harmonic weakness? (or possibly an error in the manuscript) remains a matter of conjecture but the fact remains that the most familiar-sounding version of this piece, recorded countless times by both singers and instrumentalists includes this Schwencke measure. It is therefore included in this arrangement.
Some published arrangements show minor inconsistencies in the rhythm of the melody. This arrangement uses the familiar rhythm of the Ave Maria version as it appeared in the 1859 edition.

WEDDING SERIES - a set of popular songs and wedding standards that I've been arranged for years (some aren't as standard, but still). The formations are varied, from duos to orchestras with chorus. Most are mixed/flexible sextets where some instruments can be replaced and, as a result, ensembles can be completely changed. Some arrangements have abbreviated versions (excerpts) and are in several keys to adapt to a wide range of voices. These options are available in my catalog.

AVE MARIA (Gounod) in Eb for flexible quintet - provided in D, Eb and G in my catalogue.

INSTRUMENTATION:
- Score

- Part 1: Fl (Ob/Cl/Ssax)
- Part 2: Tpt (Flugel/Asax/Tsax)
- Pno
- Vln
- Vc

Ave Maria ? Charles Gounod?s beautiful melody written atop Johann Sebastian Bach?s Prelude in C major from his Well-Tempered Clavier BWV 846 for Brass Quintet. This version along with Franz Schubert?s work of the same title are arguably the most popular. This piece is suitable for a variety of religious settings along with Weddings and Funerals. Playing Time 2:50. To view and listen to this piece in its entirety as well hundreds of other arrangement and transcriptions by Kenneth Abeling at the lowest prices available please visit: www.lincolnmusicpublications.com