Solo Songs A - E Words by John Newton (1725-1807) Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,All Things Bright
Alleluia
Amazing grace
Ave Maria (Schubert)
Ave Maria (Bach)
Ave Verum
Be thou with them
Blessed are all they
Dominus Deus
Entreat me not
more...
Notes
This version of Mrs. Alexander’s classic hymn was made by John Rutter, who has an ear for a catchy tune in a memorable setting.
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EITHER Organ and Soprano
OR Organ and Choir
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Music by John Rutter
Words by Mrs. C. F. Alexander
Notes
Mozart’s first composition which still ranks as a masterpiece is this brilliant show-piece, written in 1772 in Milan shortly before he turned 17. Wolfgang and his father, Leopold, had traveled to Milan in October 1772 for the premiere of his opera Lucio Silla, in which the famous castrato Venanzio Rauzzini was appearing. Operatic virtuosity and displays of coloratura must have been Rauzzini’s forte. In the three movements of Exsultate Jubilate, Mozart borrows the aria and recitative style from the opera house. The Alleluia is the final movement. That Mozart called the work a motet, shows perhaps that it was intended for liturgical use, despite its florid operatic style.
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Forces required:
Organ and Soprano
Text
Alleluia
Notes
Also suitable as a hymn
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EITHER Organ and Soprano
OR Organ and Choir
OR Choir unaccompanied
Text
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
that sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears reliev'd;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believ'd!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis'd good to me;
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
Music: an American Folk Hymn
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EITHER Organ and Soprano
OR Organ and Trumpet
Text
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
N.B. The original German text is longer (three verses) and different:
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!
Ave, Maria! Maiden mild!
Oh listen to a maiden's prayer;
For thou canst hear tho' from the wild,
And Thou canst save amid despair.
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care
Tho' banish'd outcast and reviled,
Oh, Maiden hear a maidens prayer.
Oh 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, if Thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern's heavy air
Shall breath of Balm if thou hast smiled;
Then, Maiden hear a maiden's prayer.
Oh Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!
Ave, Maria! Stainless-styled!
Foul demons of the earth and air,
From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee, 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 bear a child!
Ave Maria!
Notes
This was originally a harpsichord piece - Prelude No.1 from the first book of Das Wohltempierte Klavier - Gounod had the clever idea of putting a vocal line over Bach's original keyboard part to make this now famous song.
Duration
Forces required:
Organ and Soprano
Text
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Notes
TO FOLLOW
Duration
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Forces required:
EITHER Organ and Soprano
OR Organ and Choir
Text
Ave verum corpus, natum ex Maria Virgine,
Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine.
Cujus latus vero fluxit sanguine:
Esto nobis praegustatum, mortis in examine.
Hail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary. who truly
suffered and was sacrificed on the cross for mankind.
From whose pierced side flowed water and blood.
O mayʼst thou, dear Lord, be given at deathʼs hour to be my food:
Words from a sequence
hymn for Corpus Christi
by Pope Innocent VI (d. 1342)
Notes
This is clever; it is "If thou are near" - Bist du bei mir, a well known song by Bach, but with new words, appropriate for a wedding.
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Forces Required
Soprano and Organ
Text
Be thou with them, dear Lord and Father,
their lives and souls dost thou unite.
O how blest are they, thy children,
when in thy spirit, living, moving,
they grow in love before thy sight.
Notes
This is the second movement from Sing unto God, the Wedding Anthem that Handel wrote for Prince Frederick and Princess Augusta, It was first performed on 27 April 1736.
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Forces Required
Soprano and Organ
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Soprano and Organ
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Domine Deus rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty.
Notes
Duration
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Soprano and Organ
Text
Entreat me not to leave thee...
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