The Melody Spin Song Encyclopedia

Schubert’s Ave Maria Cello and Guitar Duet - If there is any song that exemplifies what is “Light Classical” it might be Schubert’s Ave Maria. Franz Schubert wrote this Ave Maria setting of the Catholic Mass component. Because the melody of Ave Maria is so long and flowing, I decided to make this arrangement for cello and guitar with the cello taking that soaring Ave Maria melody.

Ave Maria History - Ave Maria is a Hail Mary from the Latin Ave Maria (Salutatio Angelica), a traditional Catholic and Orthodox prayer calling for the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This setting was Written by Franz Shubert in 1825 for his “Songs from Sir Walter Scott”. Contained in this cycle is the beloved Ellens dritter Gesang, D.839, today more popularly though mistakenly referred to as “Schubert’s Ave Maria“. This duet version for solo cello and classical guitar also has a unique componet. Skanson has composed a new section that alludes to the other famouse Ave Maria by Gounod/Bach as it quotes certain melodies and builds to a wonderful climax before returning to the origianl Schubert setting. Simply wonderful.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) - Born Vienna, 31 January 1797; died there, 19 November 1828 The son of a schoolmaster, he showed an extraordinary childhood aptitude for music, studying the piano, violin, organ, singing and harmony and, while a chorister in the imperial court chapel, composition with Salieri (1808-13).

Although Darren Curtis Skanson is known mostly for his classical guitar compositions, he is also a prolific arranger. His classical guitar arrangements of Schubert, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, and other classical composers are among the most essential to the classical guitar repertoire.

Darren Curtis Skanson’s Light Classical Guitar music has a timeless classical sound with familiar melodies and fresh new compositions that all lean to the gentle and melodic side of Classical. With 9 compact discs to his resume, Darren is a classical guitar musical force. His Spanish and Flamenco release “Solamente Romanz” reached #8 on Billboard’s Top Classical Chart. Darren’s previous CD, “Classica” which features classical guitar reached #11 on that same chart. Darren was also proclaimed; “… the most requested classical guitarist on Beethoven Radio” by Beethoven.com, the #1 Classical Radio Station in the world.