Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843 – 1907) was a Norwegian Romantic composer and pianist. Works such as the Piano Concerto in A minor, the Lyric Pieces for Piano, his songs and the Peer Gynt suites make him one of Norway's most important composers. Grieg was also referred to as "the Chopin of the North" by the influential conductor Hans von Bülow. He descended from a family that was Scottish in origin and was actually called Greig. His great-grandfather Alexander Greig, an Aberdeen merchant, had settled in Bergen in 1746, more for economic than political reasons. He changed his surname to Grieg, according to the Scottish pronunciation of the egg sound. His son John and his grandson Alexander, father of Edvard Grieg, were both Consul in Bergen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edvard was born in a musical family. His mother, Gesine Judith Hagerup (1814 - 1875), was very artistic (and had also studied piano and singing) and his father,Alexander Grieg (†1875), merchant and British diplomat in Mons, made music in his spare time. Grieg also had a brother (John) and three sisters, who were also musically gifted.

Grieg can for the most part be regarded as a miniaturist - his great strength lay in writing small forms of music with an often uncomplicated course, which is especially expressed in his piano music. His earliest work belongs to German Romanticism. His later compositions are characterized by apparently simple melodies with a subtle chromatic and harmonic style all his own, often drawing on Norwegian folk music - especially Norwegian folk songs and dances. X-ray notes that the opinion that Grieg used folk music in his compositions is based on a widespread misunderstanding. Almost everything he composed was of his own invention. With a few exceptions, he did not compose great pieces of music such as symphonies and operas, although he was ambitious enough to do so.

Much of his music - especially songs and the Lyrical Pieces for piano - has found acceptance in many a musical family. Partly because of this, his music has become widespread. The Ballade, opus 24 - actually variations on a Norwegian folk song - is one of Grieg's largest and most important works for piano, which was highly praised by Brahms. The work belongs to the concert repertoire of many pianists.

"Ave maris stella" (Latin for 'Hail, star of the sea') is a medieval Marian hymn, usually sung at Vespers. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions. Authorship of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century), Saint Venantius Fortunatus (6th century) and Hermannus Contractus (11th century). Probably originating in the 9th century, it appears as a 10th century addition in two 9th-century manuscripts, one from Salzburg now in Vienna and the other still at the Abbey of Saint Gall. Its frequent occurrence in the Divine Office made it popular in the Middle Ages, many other hymns being founded upon it. The "Ave maris stella" was highly influential in presenting Mary as a merciful and loving Mother. "Much of its charm is due to its simplicity".[The title "Star of the Sea" is one of the oldest and most widespread titles applied to Mary. The hymn is frequently used as a prayer for safe-conduct for travelers.

Grieg wrote the original in 1893 for voice and piano accompaniment. A second version followed in 1898 for eight-part mixed choir, consisting of two soprano, two alto, two tenor and two bass voices. This version was released together with Ved and Hustrus Båre in To religiøse kor. This collection of two songs is dedicated to the Caeciliaforeningen, a choir from Copenhagen, who first sang this a cappella version on 30 January 1899 under the direction of Fredrik Rung.

Source: Wikipedia (https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Grieg).

Although originally composed for Mixed Choir(SSAATTBB), I created this arrangement of "Ave maris stella" (EG 150) for Winds (Flute, Oboe, French Horn & Bassoon) & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).