Program Note by Dr. Wilbur Skeels

Herr Biebl told me that when he was organist/choirmaster and teacher in the Fürstenfeldbruck parish near Munich he had in his church choir a fireman. It was common for companies, factories, police and fire departments, etc. to sponsor an employees' choir, which often would participate in choral competitions and festivals with other similar choirs. This fireman asked Biebl to please compose something for his fireman's choir for such an occasion. The result was the Ave Maria (double male choir version).

The piece gained practically no attention in Germany for many years. However, when Biebl was the head of choral programs for the Bayerischen Rundfunk (Bavarian Radio) he made a habit of inviting American choirs to come to Munich and sing on the radio and with other German choirs. One of these choirs was the Cornell University Glee Club under the direction of Tom Sokoll, who was introduced to the Ave Maria and brought it back to the US, where it became increasingly popular. It was recorded by the Harvard Glee Club on the Musical Heritage Society label. When Chanticleer recorded it, it became a hit, not only in the US but in Germany too, which now considered the piece must be special as it was such a hit in America! Biebl did arrangements for other voicings, and the seven-part mixed choir arrangement is now probably the most popular.

The source of the text is the Angelus liturgy recited every morning (at 6 a.m.), noon and evening (at 6 p.m.) in the Catholic Church (except during Paschal time, when the Regina Coeli is substituted). It is cued by the ringing of the "Angelus" bell, sometimes referred to as the "Peace Bell." It consists of three versicles based on the Gospel, followed each time by a "Hail Mary". There is a concluding versicle and prayer which Biebl does not utilize. He defers the section of the "Ave Maria" beginning "Sancta Maria, Mater Dei . . ." until after the third versicle.

Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae
The Angel of the Lord announced to Mary

Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Ave Maria, etc.
Hail Mary, etc.

Ecce ancilla Domini
Behold the handmaiden of the Lord

Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Do to me according to your word.

Ave Maria, etc.
Hail Mary, etc.

Et verbum caro factum est
And the Word was made flesh

Et habitavit in nobis
And dwelt among us.

Ave Maria etc., Sancta Maria etc.
Hail Mary etc., Holy Mary etc.

[Ora pro nobis sancta Dei genetrix . . .]
[Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation in Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord, AMEN.]

© Copyright 2001, revised 2004, Cantus Quercus Press Thousand Oaks, California. http://cantusquercus.com
Information about the Cornell Glee Club courtesy of Tarek Sultaini (2004).
Permission is granted to use this material in concert program notes. For all other uses, please enquire of the author at Copyright@cantusquercus.com.

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