Ave Maria (SATB, a cappella) – a new setting
  • DWBasden
    Posts: 17
    Here's a setting that's very straight-forward. My aim was to present the prayer with clarity and simplicity, but also with a "mildly modern" sound and in four parts.

    It's one page long – 1½ minutes' duration – no extreme ranges – no divisi.

    Please feel free to download it, sing it in services or in paid performances. I'd love to hear of (and possibly hear!) the results. To date, this has only been sung publicly in Australia.

    Here's a link to a multitrack recording by Matthew Curtis.

    Best wishes – David Basden, Sydney
    Thanked by 8ryand CHGiffen R J Stove JulieColl Aristotle Esguerra Heath ZacPB189 sdpartlan
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,148
    What a stunning setting for all its simplicity. Kudos, and thank you.
    Thanked by 2DWBasden R J Stove
  • R J StoveR J Stove
    Posts: 302
    Very impressive, sir. For my part, I hope that the Leichhardt choir (I used to live near Leichhardt, as it happens, during the latter part of my Sydney days) appreciates the work and does it justice. I regret not having discovered your composing talent before this.
    Thanked by 1DWBasden
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    Many thanks for this simple but very touching arrangement. It's fresh-sounding and traditional at the same time. I esp. love the Amen and (being an alto) am most appreciative of the lovely flourishes for the alto at the cadences.
    Thanked by 2DWBasden R J Stove
  • DWBasden
    Posts: 17
    Thank you all for your generous comments!

    @JulieColl – yes, altos seem to miss out on occasion, so I always try to give them a little something.
    Thanked by 3R J Stove JulieColl CHGiffen
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    Altos are like the work horses of the choir; they're not flashy but they do help "glue" things together.
    Thanked by 5ryand DWBasden CHGiffen R J Stove Adam Wood
  • Patricia Cecilia
    Posts: 397
    Lovely piece, David. I will second Julie's observations on altos/mezzos and what woodwind players call 'grateful writing' for them.
    Thanked by 1DWBasden
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,451
    Finally listened to it...

    This is SO GOOD.
    Thanked by 2ryand DWBasden
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    I love it, too. It's so peaceful, and I love the way the very gentle dissonances resolve at the end of each phrase.
    Thanked by 1DWBasden
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,451
    I have promoted this at the Cafe.

    So basically you're famous now.
    Thanked by 1DWBasden
  • DWBasden
    Posts: 17
    Adam, Julie, Patricia – thanks again for those kind words!

    Adam – thank you for the cafe post too – I didn't know there *was* a cafe. (If it wasn't 3:00 AM I'd wander in, grab a coffee, settle down with the crossword, etc, etc.)
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,148
    (If it wasn't 3:00 AM I'd wander in, grab a coffee, settle down with the crossword, etc, etc.)

    It's a nice place, but we do try to keep the cross words to a minimum (not always successfully).
    Thanked by 2JulieColl DWBasden
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    Love it! After the first of the year, my choir will begin working on it. By then we will have recovered from Christmas music.
    Thanked by 3ryand DWBasden R J Stove
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,183
    What a lovely setting! Simplicity and yet transcendent beauty packed into a small package. Will do it after the first of the year. Already programmed the Rachmaninov Ave Maria for 4th Sunday of Advent. Wished I had found this sooner.
    Thanked by 1DWBasden
  • DWBasden
    Posts: 17
    Thank you @CharlesW and @Kevin in Kentucky!

    (Funny thing is, due to a series of unfortunate misunderstandings and mishaps, I'd never heard this all the way through until I received Matthew Curtis's multitrack recording three weeks ago. I've still never heard an actual choir sing the piece in its well-under-two-minute entirety.)
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen R J Stove
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