ELLENS DRITTER GESANG

'Ellens dritter Gesang' (''Ellens Gesang III'', D839, Op 52 no 6, 1825), ''Ellen's third song'' in English, composed by Franz Schubert in 1825, is one of Schubert's most popular works over a century after the composer's death, although some misconceptions exist around it.

Contents

"The Lady of the Lake" and the "Ave Maria"

The words of "Ellens dritter Gesang"

Use in Disney's ''Fantasia''

Media

Other Uses

References

Solos

Duos

External links

"The Lady of the Lake" and the "Ave Maria"

The piece is often referred to as Schubert's ''Ave Maria''; but it was originally composed as a setting of a song from Walter Scott's popular epic poem ''The Lady of the Lake'', in the German translation by Adam Storck, and thus forms part of Schubert's "Liederzyklus vom Fräulein vom See". In Scott's poem the character Ellen Douglas, the "Lady" of "the Lake" (Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands) has gone with her father to hide in the "Goblin's cave" nearby to avoid drawing the vengeance of the King on their host, the Clan-Alpine chieftain Roderick Dhu, who has been affording them shelter since the King had exiled them. She sings a ''prayer'' addressed to the Virgin Mary, calling upon her for help. Ellen is overheard by Roderick Dhu who is higher on the mountain, raising the clan for war.
The piece is said to have first been performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff in the little Austrian town Steyregg and dedicated to her, which led to her subsequently becoming known as ''the lady of the lake'' herself.
The opening words and refrain of Ellen's song, namely "Ave Maria" (Latin, "Hail Mary"), may have led to the idea of adapting Schubert's melody as a setting for the full text of the traditional Roman Catholic prayer Ave Maria. The Latin version of the Ave Maria is now so frequently used with Schubert's melody, that it has led to the misconception that he originally wrote the melody as a setting for the ''Ave Maria''.

The words of "Ellens dritter Gesang"

;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 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!

;''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 this 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!

Use in Disney's ''Fantasia''

Walt Disney used Schubert's song in the final part of ''Fantasia'', where he chained it to Mussorgsky's ''Night on Bald Mountain'', in one of his most famous pastiches. The end of Mussorgsky's work blends with almost no change right into the beginning of Schubert's song, and as Deems Taylor remarked, the bells in "Night on Bald Mountain", originally meant to signal the coming of dawn, now seem to be church bells signalling the beginning of religious services. The text for this version is sung in English, and was written by Rachel Field, who based it on Schubert's original. This version also had three verses, like Schubert's original, but only the third verse made it into the film: (one line in the last verse is partailly repeated to show just exactly how it is sung in the film)
Ave Maria!

Now your ageless bell

so sweetly sounds for listening ears,

from heights of Heaven to brink of Hell

in tender notes have echoed through the years.

Aloft from earth's far boundaries

Each poor petition, every prayer,

the hopes of foolish ones and wise

must mount in thanks or grim despair.

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria!

You were not spared one pang of flesh, or mortal tear;

So rough the paths your feet have shared,

So great the bitter burden of your fear.

Your heart has bled with every beat.

In dust you laid your weary head,

the hopeless vigil of defeat was yours

and flinty stone for bread

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria!
Heaven's Bride.

The bells ring out in solemn praise,

for you, the anguish and the pride.

The living glory of our nights,

of our nights and days.

The prince of peace your arms embrace,

while hosts of darkness fade and cower.

Oh save us, mother full of grace,

In life and in our dying hour,

Ave Maria!
The arrangement was made by Leopold Stokowski especially for the film, and unlike the original, which is scored for a solo voice, the version heard in ''Fantasia'' is scored for soprano and mixed chorus, accompanied by the string section of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The soloist is Julietta Novis.

Media

Other Uses

★ The song was used in an episode of ''Family Guy''

★ The 1993 film ''Alive'' used the song in the closing credits. An episode of ''South Park'' that parodied the cannibalism aspects of the film likewise used the same soundtrack.

★ The song is used in the film ''Needful Things'', based on the book by Stephen King.

★ The song is played at the titular ceremony in the 1994 film ''Muriel's Wedding''.

★ The song is used as the main title song in '', as well as in the final level.

★ The song was used in ''The West Wing'' episode "The Crackpots And These Women".

★ The song was used in "Ballad of Fallen Angels" (session #5) of the anime series ''Cowboy Bebop''.

★ The song was used as the theme music for the first trailer for the film Hitman (2007 film).

★ The song was used in the 2001 film ''Donnie Darko'' during a scene in a cinema.

★ The song was used in the 2002 film ''28 Days Later''.

★ The song is played in the 2003 video game in Gospic's island estate.

References

''Walt Disney's Fantasia'', a book written by Deems Taylor and published in 1940 in conjunction with the film's original release. The text was later adapted for the liner notes in the booklet accompanying the 1957 LP release of the film soundtrack album.

Solos

★ Elly Ameling (Album: ''Ave Maria'', Schubert's original ''Ellens dritter Gesang'' sung in German, sample)

★ Marian Anderson (Album: ''Marian Anderson'', Schubert's original ''Ellens dritter Gesang'' sung in German, sample)

★ Nino D'Angelo

★ Chet Atkins

★ Charles Aznavour

★ Joan Baez

★ Al Bano

★ Harry Belafonte

★ David Bisbal

★ Roy Black

★ Boca

★ Andrea Bocelli

★ Sarah Brightman

★ Inessa Galante Caccini

★ Maria Callas

★ Mariah Carey

★ Jose Carreras

★ Ellada Chakoyan (Album: ''Ave Maria'', Schubert's original ''Ellens dritter Gesang'' sung in German, sample)

★ Charlotte Church

★ Richard Clayderman

★ Perry Como

★ Harry Connick Jr

★ Chris Cornell

★ Eumir Deodato

★ Celine Dion

★ Renee Fleming

★ Kenny G

★ Josh Groban

★ Nina Hagen

★ Mahalia Jackson

★ Jewel

★ Bradley Joseph (instrumental, Album: ''Hymns and Spiritual Songs'')

★ Kiri Te Kanawa

★ Mario Lanza

★ Rita Lee

★ Mario Merola

★ Michelle (Album: ''Weihnachten'')

★ Nana Mouskouri

★ John Murphy

★ Anne Sofie von Otter

★ Arvo Pärt

★ Luciano Pavarotti ('Incredible Christmas Album', sung in Italian)

★ Leontyne Price (Latin version, sample)

★ Ginette Reno

★ Demis Roussos

★ Harry Secombe

★ Frank Sinatra

★ Jantje Smit

★ Barbra Streisand

★ Tarja Turunen (Album: "Henkays Ikuisuudesta", Schubert's original ''Ellens dritter Gesang'' sung in German, sample No. 7)

★ Renata Tebaldi

★ Rondà Veneziano

★ Rufus Wainwright

★ Hayley Westenra

★ Roger Whitaker

★ Andy Williams

★ Stevie Wonder

★ Helmut Zacharias

★ Benedictine Monks Of Santo Domingo De Silos

★ The Cathedral Singers

★ Chanticleer

★ EKSeption

★ Gregorian Chants - Monasteries of France

★ Opera Babes

★ The Seatbelts

★ La Sonora Carruseles

★ Chris Cornell with Eleven, arranged by Natasha Shneider

★ Thievery Corporation

★ Vienna Boys Choir

★ Voces Blancas

Duos

★ Yo-Yo Ma & Bobby McFerrin

★ Celine Dion & Roberto Carlos & Luciano Pavarotti

★ The Cranberries & Luciano Pavarotti

★ Roberto Carlos & Luciano Pavarotti

★ Sting & Luciano Pavarotti

★ Kelly Family & Luciano Pavarotti

★ Luciano Pavarotti & Aaron Neville

★ Plácido Domingo & Vienna Boys Choir

★ Elvis Presley & Barbra Streisand

★ Bryn Terfel & Sissel Kyrkjebø

★ Björk & Arvo Pärt

★ Liona Boyd & Zamfir

★ Bono & Luciano Pavarotti

External links

★ Franz Peter Schubert: Master of Song

★ A note on the theological perspective of ''Ellens dritter Gesang''

★

★ edition by William J. Rolfe, Boston 1883 pdf, with the song on page 58, and notes on alternate words on page 177

★ ''The Lady of the Lake'' (Gutenberg e-text #3011) The full text of Walter Scott's poem, including ''Hymn to the Virgin''