Music by: Paul William Keefe
written for SATB Chorus & Organ
“Truly Beautiful, and Wholly Original. [Paul William Keefe’s Ave Maria] is very distinct from the other versions.”
“Hail Mary” – Performed by Ave Maria University Schola Singers
Recording: © 2025; PWK, All Rights Reserved
World Premiere: March 22nd 2025, Composed for the Feast of the Annunciation Mass at Ave Maria Parish.
I had wanted to write an “Ave Maria” for over 12 years. Two big obstacles kept holding me back. The first was that the prayer is in Latin. Even though I sing in that language all the time and I can translate a few words now, I’ll never know it well enough to feel comfortable setting it. Even if I was able to do it, it wouldn’t be as rewarding as hearing it in my language. If in Latin, people would pay more attention to the development of the music, rather than of the text and the music together.
The second obstacle was this: there are countless versions from throughout history. Some of them are classics. If I wrote one, how would it stand out? Yes, people still write “Ave Marias”, but even with their own compositional voice, Latin is so ancient that the audience could easily mistake a World Premiere for a piece written 200 years ago, or even 400 years ago.
I knew my solution had to be a setting in my vernacular (so English) — but the text is too short. (One of the reasons why composers decide not to set it). How to sustain interest? Well, a few years ago, I found a solution. I started praying the Rosary more often, an ancient Catholic prayer with many Hail Marys in succession. After saying it daily for a period of months, I realized that if I had people singing Hail Marys starting at different times, not only would it create a continuous flowing ripple effect like the Rosary does, but it would also allow the audience to hear a mirage of harmony and sound that comes together in the nave of a large church. From a choral perspective, it sounds like a community of devout Catholics praying to Our Lady together.
I hope more churches and choirs perform this piece for years to come.