Friday, December 18, 2020

Susanna Yoko Henkel: "Ave Maria" (Franz Schubert)


The Lady of the Lake is a poem written by Sir Walter Scott in 1810. In it there is the tale of a young woman named Ellen Douglas who is suffering greatly in a terrible conflict that her family is embroiled in. One night, as she hides in a dirty, damp cave, she pleads her cause to the Virgin Mary. This scene inspired Franz Schubert, an Austrian composer to write this beautiful violin work which we know as Schubert's Ave Maria. Schubert wrote the piece with Ellen's Third Song lyrics in German, but even the English fits the music much better, than the stupid attempts to cram the Latin Hail Mary prayer into the music as almost every sung rendition of this that we hear has tried to do.
Today, as we watch our world descend into madness, when liars and cheats seem to have all the power and rewards, as they prepare to send the hounds after us, we must always remember that we have the blessed Virgin as our protector, that She does hear our prayers, and that Her grace and power obliterates the enemies of her Son, our Good Lord Jesus Christ.
Listen to this truly inspired music and follow along with the words, and take heart. The Lord has already defeated our foes and will bring us home, if we trust and honor Him and His Word. Merry Christmas! and may God bless the United States.
Ellen's Third Song (Ave MarĂ­a)
Hail, Mary!
Meek maiden.
Heed the supplications of a maiden.
From this bare, savage rocks
my prayers will drift towards you.
We sleep safely until morning
though men are yet so barbaric.
Oh Maiden, see the strife of a maiden!
Oh mother, hear a pleading child!
Hail, Mary!
Hail, Mary!
Untarnished!
When from this crag we drift away
towards sleep, and your mantle protects us
the hard rocks will seem soft to us.
You laugh, and a scent of roses floats
over this airless abyss.
Oh mother, hear your children imploring you!
Oh Maiden, call in another maiden!
Hail Mary!
Hail Mary!
Pristine servant!
The demons of the air and earth
are haunted by the glory in your eyes.
They cannot live here with us.
Yet, we still seek to turn fate
and turn your holy solace against you.
The Maiden will intercede in favor
of the child that implores to his Father.
Hail, Mary!