Ave Maria (after Bach's Prelude in C major)
Charles Gounod
Work background
Researched classical background
Gounod places a new singing melody above the flowing harmony of Bach's C-major prelude from The Well-Tempered Clavier. The familiar vocal version sets the Latin Ave Maria prayer. Its identity therefore involves two composers with distinct contributions, separated by more than a century. Arrangements for many instruments exist, but they should not be confused with Bach's original keyboard prelude.
Inspiration and creative background
Bach's C-major prelude supplies the harmonic basis; the vocal version sets the Ave Maria prayer.
Notice bibliographique Ave Maria [pour soprano solo, violon, solo, piano, orgue et orchestre.] Orchestre. Ch. Gounod | Accueil | Catalogue general | BnF- Bibliotheque nationale de France
Library catalogue: Gounod vocal publication dated approximately 1859; not an exact composition date for all versions. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
A listening guide
Hear the sustained upper melody against the accompaniment's continuous broken chords.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Voice and accompaniment; many later instrumental arrangements
Publication: About 1859 (vocal publication)
The BnF catalog dates this vocal publication to approximately 1859; the earlier instrumental meditation and later arrangements are different versions.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Also known as: Bach-Gounod Ave Maria
Date, title and version notes
The publication date is approximate in the catalog record.
Instrumental and vocal versions have different histories.
Notice bibliographique Ave Maria [pour soprano solo, violon, solo, piano, orgue et orchestre.] Orchestre. Ch. Gounod | Accueil | Catalogue general | BnF- Bibliotheque nationale de France
Library catalogue: Gounod vocal publication dated approximately 1859; not an exact composition date for all versions. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Notice bibliographique Ave Maria [pour soprano solo, violon, solo, piano, orgue et orchestre.] Orchestre. Ch. Gounod | Accueil | Catalogue general | BnF- Bibliotheque nationale de France
Library catalogue: Gounod vocal publication dated approximately 1859; not an exact composition date for all versions. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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