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Ellens dritter Gesang
Ellens dritter Gesang (Ellens Gesang III, D839, Op 52 no 6, 1825), in English: "Ellen's Third Song", was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825 as part of his Opus 52, a setting of seven songs from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, loosely translated into German.
It has become one of Schubert's most popular works under the title of Ave Maria, in arrangements with various lyrics which commonly differ from the original context of the poem.
"The Lady of the Lake" and the "Ave Maria"
The piece was composed as a setting of a song from Walter Scott's popular epic poem The Lady of the Lake, in a German translation by Adam Storck (1780-1822), and thus forms part of Schubert's Liederzyklus vom Fräulein vom See.
In Scott's poem the character Ellen Douglas, the "Lady" of "the Lake" (Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands) has gone with her exiled father to stay in the "Goblin's cave" as he has declined to join their previous host, Roderick Dhu, in rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chieftain of Clan Alpine, sets off up the mountain with his warriors, but lingers and hears the distant sound of the harpist Allan-bane, accompanying Ellen who sings a prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary, calling upon her for help. Roderick Dhu pauses, then goes on to battle.
Position within the cycle
In 1825, Schubert composed a selection of seven songs from Scott's The Lady of the Lake. They were published in 1826 as his op. 52.
The songs are not intended for a single performer: the three songs of Ellen are piano songs for a woman's voice, while the songs for Norman and the Count of Douglas were intended for the baritone Johann Michael Vogl. The remaining two songs are written one for a male and the other for a female ensemble.
1. Ellens Gesang I D 837 Raste Krieger, Krieg ist aus / "Soldier rest! the warfare o’er"
2. Ellens Gesang II D 838 Jäger, ruhe von der Jagd / "Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done"
3. Bootgesang D 835 Triumph, er naht / "Hail to the chief", for male voice quartet
4. Coronach (Deathsong of the women and girls) D 836 Er ist uns geschieden / "He is gone to the mountain", for female choir
5. Normans Gesang D 846 Die Nacht bricht bald herein ("Night will soon be falling")
6. Ellens Gesang III (Hymn to the Virgin) D 839 Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild! / "Ave Maria! maiden mild!"
7. Lied des gefangenen Jägers D 843 Mein Roß so müd / "My steed is tired"
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