I was doing some research on this melody and came across a curious attribution I found in a French hymnal - CANTIQUES CHOISIS, 1951. It indicates the composer as Abbot F.-X. Moreau.
Another source found here https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_de_Lourdes, indicates the origin of the melody is borrowed from a tune composed by Fr. Louis Lambillotte. I have found collections of Lambillotte works from 1842 and 1867 but I haven't found the melody among them.
I have a few French hymnals in my collection and the earliest is 1912 but the attribution is simply Air de Lourdes. The others in my collection give no attribution and like American hymnals, the tune is being used for other hymns. I've attached the arrangement indicating Abbot Moreau and my 1912 copy. Are there any forum members who have French hymnals from an earlier time period with the melody that might show an attribution?
I thought you might find this information interesting.
While derived from the same root as abbot, Abbé in French generally signifies a simple diocesan priest. I found a few details about Fr. Moreau online...
@Chrism, the link to Fr. Moreau proved fruitful, some of his music was available for download. His Les échos de Lourdes, 1881, #6 Ave Maria, is the Lourdes tune, with six Ave's.
Just as 'french fries' are not French but Flemish, I am' happy to say it is not French (the adaptation of the text is of course) but Flemisch: The melody of this song was written by Constant VERHULST (1838-1923) from Berlaar. The music was made on 10 May 1857, one year before the apparitions in LOURDES, for a feast of Mary in BERLAAR. After the apparitions the then Sister Superior of BERLAAR wrote the well-known text (te Lourdes op de bergen = In Lourdes on the mountain) to the tune of CONSTANT VERHULST.'
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