Ave Maria (Ellens dritter Gesang)
Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild
Soll mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild
Soll mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Gentle Virgin,
hear a maiden's plea;
from this rock, rigid and wild,
let my prayer be carried to you.
We shall sleep safely until morning,
however cruel people may be.
O Virgin, see a maiden's cares,
O Mother, hear a pleading child!
Ave Maria!
hear a maiden's plea;
from this rock, rigid and wild,
let my prayer be carried to you.
We shall sleep safely until morning,
however cruel people may be.
O Virgin, see a maiden's cares,
O Mother, hear a pleading child!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt,
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft.
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt,
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft.
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Undefiled!
When we sink down on this rock
to sleep, and your protection covers us,
the hard rock will seem soft to us.
You smile, and the scent of roses drifts
through this musty cleft of rock.
O Mother, hear a child's plea,
O Virgin, a maiden calls!
Ave Maria!
When we sink down on this rock
to sleep, and your protection covers us,
the hard rock will seem soft to us.
You smile, and the scent of roses drifts
through this musty cleft of rock.
O Mother, hear a child's plea,
O Virgin, a maiden calls!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen.
Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht!
Ave Maria!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen.
Wir woll'n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil'ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht!
Ave Maria!
Ave Maria! Pure maid!
The demons of the earth and air,
driven away by the grace of your gaze,
cannot dwell here with us.
We will bow quietly to our fate,
since your holy comfort breathes upon us;
incline graciously to the maiden,
to the child who prays for her father!
Ave Maria!
The demons of the earth and air,
driven away by the grace of your gaze,
cannot dwell here with us.
We will bow quietly to our fate,
since your holy comfort breathes upon us;
incline graciously to the maiden,
to the child who prays for her father!
Ave Maria!
About the song. Schubert's 'Ave Maria' is not a setting of the Latin prayer: it is Ellen's prayer from Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake, in Adam Storck's German translation. Hiding with her father in a mountain cave, Ellen asks the Virgin for protection. The melody became so famous that it is often sung today with the Latin text instead. Editions differ in verse 2: some print 'Felsenkluft' (cleft of rock), others 'Felsengruft' (rocky vault).
Preparing a recital? We prepare complete, print-ready recital programs (original texts, our own English translations you may print freely, and short program notes) in 48 hours. Student programs from $45, professional from $95. Order a program
Translation © Art Song Translations. You may print it free of charge in concert and recital programs with the credit "Translation: Art Song Translations". The German text is in the public domain; repetitions made by the composer are not printed.
More from us: Myth and Score (podcast: famous composer stories, checked against the facts) · Late Hours (calm podcasts on history, space and more) · Opera Stories (YouTube) · Slow Orbit (YouTube sleep lectures on space) · Support us on Ko-fi (tips, no fees)