Ave Maria | Аве Марія |
Ave Maria | Аве Марія
Composer: Dmytro Bortniansky | Дмитро Бортнянський
This sacred motet, written by the young Dmytro Bortniansky (1751-1825) during his studies in Italy, was originally written for soprano and mezzo soprano with a chamber orchestra. Bortniansky was one of the "Golden Three" Ukrainian classical composers of his era, along with Artemy Vedel and Maksym Berezovsky and is best known today for his prolific contributions to Ukrainian sacred works for varied choir configurations. While Bortniansky also wrote operas and instrumental compositions, it is his sacred choral works that are performed most often today. His liturgical music combined the Eastern and Western European styles of sacred music, incorporating the polyphony he learned in Italy, while some works were polychoral, using a style descended from the Venetian polychoral technique of the Gabrielis; producing scores upon scores of sacred music including over 100 religious works, sacred concertos (35 for SATB, 10 for double choruses), cantatas, and hymns. This vast body of work remains central not only to understanding 18th-century Eastern Orthodox sacred music but also served as an inspiration to other Ukrainian composers.
This piece, with piano accompaniment, formed part of Vesnivka's early repertoire and was often performed by the choir at community events.