Ave Maria (24 Sketches, Op. 11 No. 24)

If you are a regular listener, you will know that I've been working my way through the 24 Sketches by Edmund Chipp. The last one in the collection is "Ave Maria" which is the correct piece for the day, so, although I was up to No. 10, I jumped ahead to No. 24. :-)

Today, March 25th is the Annunciation (from Latin "annuntiatio"), also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord. It is the celebration of the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, marking His Incarnation.

Edmund Thomas Chipp (25 December 1823 – 17 December 1886) was an English organist and composer. His compositions were principally church organ music and oratorios. He was born in London on Christmas Day, 25 December 1823. He was the eldest son of musician (Thomas) Paul Chipp (1793–1870) harpist, principal drummer of his day and chorister of the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, and was educated in the Chapel Royal as a chorister. He later became a member of William IV's and then Queen Victoria's private band. He was a Chorister of the Chapel Royal under William Hawes from the age of seven until he was 17. On 28 June 1838 Chipp sang at the coronation of Queen Victoria.

Chipp studied the organ under George Cooper (organist at St Pauls Cathedral and St. James's Palace d.1838), and violin. He was violinist in Her Majesty's Private Band from 1844, and a violinist in the Philharmonic and other orchestras.

In 1859 he obtained a music degree at Cambridge University and became Doctor of Music in 1861.

This setting of "Ave Maria" is unique in several ways. It's more "chorale-like" than most versions, and it also makes use of the full organ throughout.

If you "remove" the title, you could call this "Solemn Chorale" and use it for general use.

The score is attached below, as well as a portrait of Chipp, and of Da Vinci's "Annunciation."