Masterpiece Edition-Franz Schubert was born in Vienna in 1797. He was involved in music at an early age learning music theory and many different instruments including piano violin organ and voice. During his brief but prolific life he wrote a wide variety of music. His compositions included symphonies piano sonatas piano duets operas masses chamber works and several hundred songs. Among the hundreds of songs the most loved and revered is Ave Maria. Ave Maria was first published in 1826 under the German title Ellen's Gesang 111: Hymne and die Jungfrau (Ellen's Song 111: Hymn to the Virgin). The text used was taken from a novel written by Sir Walter Scott entitled 'Lady of the Lake'. It was then translated into German as it appeared in Schubert's song. After Schubert's death in 1828 the Latin text began being used and eventually surpassed either the use of the German or English text. 'Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin' is a text which has been used in religious contexts since the beginning of Christianity. This vocal classic was originally envisioned as a devotional piece but over time the magnificent beauty of both music and text has made this song equally popular for secular performances. Schubert's Ave Maria arranged for High Voice is recommended for Soprano or Tenor ranges. We have included a separate vocal line with lyrics written in Latin just above the piano accompaniment stave(s). The English translation is also included to explain this fabled story. This Minstrel Press Edition of Schubert's Ave Maria for High Voice is exclusively distributed by Santorella Publications.

Christina Rossetti’s poem The Birthday or My Heart is Like a Singing Bird was published in 1857 and was the subject of at least a dozen musical settings before Hubert Parry. Parry had developed the habit by this point of memorizing a text and ‘cogitating’ on it before beginning composition.In this song Parry employs rippling semiquaver movement in both hands to establish the ecstatic nature of the piece which he only pauses at the climactic ‘Because my love is come to me’ most effectively. It remains one of his best-loved songs.