Ave Maria
music by Mark Zilberman, middle part lyrics by Adam Swift
Inspired by Esteban Bartolome Murillo’s
Virgin and Child
painted on 1650 in Seville, Spain
About my Ave Maria
Music - Mark Zilberman, middle part lyrics - Adam Swift, soloist - Holly Chaplin, Soprano.
In 1979, on the cover of the Florence album, I first saw Spanish Baroque artist Esteban Bartolome Murillo’s Virgin and Child, painted in 1650 in Seville, Spain. For the first time I admired the amazing combination, captured in this picture, of both divine and earthly beauty.
In 1996 I composed the first version of my musical arrangement of the Ave Maria. I recorded it on a Korg X5D synthesizer and included it in my album Starry Room recorded in 1997.
In 2019 I orchestrated the piece, arranging it for soprano, choir and orchestra, recording it in 2020. To listen or download the 2020 version of “Ave Maria” - click the player above.
Ave Maria lyrics (Latin/English)
Ave Maria, gratia plena, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in, in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris
et benedictus fructus ventris , fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Ave Maria! I see my mother, I feel her kiss, and her embrace.
Motherly eyes giving their soft peace; I lay my cares upon her knees!
And with her smile she'll wash away grief, And in her arms she holds my Christ!
She'll give me hope, she'll awaken love! Oh, Mary Mother, oh, pray for us!
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou, thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Benedicta tu in, in mulieribus and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
