Ave Maria, madre Santa (Mascagni-Mazzoni)

Speranza


Ave Maria, madre santa (Mascagni/Mazzoni)

ca. 1900

Music by: Pietro Mascagni
Lyrics by: P. Mazzoni
Cover artist: unknown


The Mascagni opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" premiered on May 17, 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi, Rome.

This opera is an example of verismo, operatic realism.

Verismo is Italian for ``realism,'' and is a term applied to operas about real life.

They're also operas about the more mundane side of life, perhaps even the worst life has to offer.

Instead of the captains, kings, heroes and gods of operas from Monteverdi to Giuseppe Verdi, verismo operas often concern peasants, con men and itinerant actors and their dirty, petty lives.

The opera deals with a tale of love and jealousy in a Sicilian village, the drama ending in the death of Turiddu, the young Santuzza's faithless lover, whom she betrays to a man whom he has deceived.

The "Ave Maria, madre santa" began, not as a song but as an interlude in the opera.

The melody was so touching and memorable that it became a stand alone popular work and one that surely evokes the verismo emotion.

Pietro Mascagni (born Livorno, 7 December 1863, died, Rome, 2 August 1945.) is one of the most important Italian composers of the turn of the century primarily based on his contribution to verismo.

The formidable success of his first masterpiece in 1890, "Cavalleria Rusticana", unfortunately eluded many of his following works and as a result, his reputation is almost entirely based on this one work.

The son of a baker who wanted Pietro to follow in his footsteps, Pietro's life was changed by an uncle who helped him receive music lessons.

He studied in Livorno and Milan where he was admitted to the conservatory in 1882.

He was dismissed for "lack of application" in 1884 and thereafter made a meager living as a bassist at the Theatro dal Verme.

Later, he toured with several third rate opera companies as conductor.

He married and settled down as a music teacher in Cerignola where he also began composing.

His first opera, "Pinotta" was set aside and misplaced by him for 50 years.

In 1888 there was a contest for one act operas which he considered entering but failed to do so.

He submitted his score for "Cavalleria Rusticana" and it won.

The opera was enthusiastically received and virtually overnight, Mascagni was a star.

In less than a year he became world famous.

Mascagni never again meet the standard he had set with Cavalleria.

Though it would not be fair to call his later works failures, audience expectation was so high that none of his later works ever met with much success.

His later years were spent conducting and touring.

In 1929 he assumed the duties as conductor at La Scala when Toscanini departed in protest against the Fascist regime.

As a result Mascagni's name became increasingly associated with the regime of Mussolini which did nothing to help his reputation.

In 1940 he made one last tour of "Cavalleria rusticana" and enjoyed his last taste of public adulation.

He died in a hotel in Rome in 1945.





Lyrics:

Ave Maria, madre Santa,
sorreggi il piè del misero che t'implora,
in sul cammin del rio dolor
e fede, e speme gl'infondi in cor.
O pietosa, tu che soffristi tanto,
vedi, ah! vedi il mio penar.
Nelle crudeli ambasce d'un infinito pianto,
Deh! Non m'abbandonar.
Ave Maria! In preda al duol,
Non mi lasciar, o madre mia, pietà!
O madre mia, pietà! In preda al duol,
Non mi lasciar, non mi lasciar.


Hail Mary, holy Mother,
Guide the feet of the wretched one who implores thee
Along the path of bitter grief
And fill the hearts with faith and hope.
O merciful Mother, thou who suffered so greatly,
See, ah! See my anguish.
In the cruel torment of endless weeping,
Ah! Do not abandon me.
Hail mary! Oppressed by grief,
Do not leave me, O Mother, have mercy!
O Mother, have mercy! Oppressed by grief,
Do not leave me.

Recitation:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus,
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.

Repeat stanza 1 from line 3 - stanza 3...










A different arrangement, but based on the same melody:
Score: is a copyrighted arrangement