Ave Maria

The 'Ave Maria' by Charles Gounod consists of a melody that he superimposed over an only very slightly changed version of the 'Prelude No.1' from Joh. Seb. Bach's 'The Well-Tempered Clavier', written 137 years earlier.

Alongside Schubert's 'Ave Maria', the Bach/Gounod 'Ave Maria' has become a fixture at wedding Masses and funerals and recorded many times by all famous singers around the world. Dutch arranger Jos van de Braak transcribed the 'Ave Maria' for a lower voice (mezzo soprano/baritone) with accompaniment of a Symphonic Band.