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Views from the Choir Loft

Ten “Ave Maria” Settings from Different Lands

Lucas Tappan · May 12, 2017

186 FATIMA AST SUNDAY the Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola Cantorum (both our adult and children choirs combined) presented a musical reflection on a Decade of the Most Holy Rosary in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. (The choir will repeat this concert next Saturday at 6 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Basehor, KS, for those interested.)

The program began with the plainsong Pater noster followed by ten settings of the Ave Maria from different eras and lands before closing with Stanford’s setting of Psalm 150 and the Doxology. I thought I would share a few of the Ave Maria recordings from the day, which I hope you enjoy!


    * *  2. AVE MARIA (Plainsong)

This chant provides the melodic material for Victoria’s setting.


    * *  3. AVE MARIA attr. to Fr. Victoria (d. 1611)

Conducted by my assistant John Deahl.


    * *  5. AVE MARIA by Colin Mawby (b. 1936)

Composed specifically for the Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola Cantorum.


    * *  7. AVE MARIA by Matthew Martin (b. 1976)

Sung by Choristers only.


    * *  9. AVE MARIA by Rachmaninoff (d. 1943)

Conducted by my assistant John Deahl.


    * *  10. AVE MARIA by Charlie Wulke

This work was newly composed by our school music teacher for the concert!


    * *  11. AVE MARIA by Gabriel Fauré (d. 1924)

Like Beethoven, Fauré was deaf as he grew older.


Many of our families are devoted to the Rosary, and the children enjoyed this musical “decade of the Rosary.”

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Lucas Tappan

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To treat harmony and rhythm in this matter was a difficult matter. Facing numerous problems both large and small—that arose constantly—we understood that a flawless harmonization of Gregorian chant cannot be created by improvisation, no matter the competence and ability of the organist or harmonist.”

— ‘Mons. Jules Van Nuffel, NOH Preface’

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