Ave Maria, composed by Franz Biebl, sung by The Resonanz Children's Choir from Indonesia
conducted by Devi Fransisca
soloist by Alicia K. Hartono
The choir leaders : Luciana Oendoen and Fiona Luisa
Claudio Monteverdi Choral Competition 2016's Opening Concert, 7th July 2016
Ave Maria
Ancient Liturgical
Franz Biebl (1906-2001)
In 1964, a German fireman asked Franz Biebl, his church organist, to write a piece for the men’s choir at the firehouse. Biebl composed the song, and the men’s choir sang it, and it was forgotten. A few years later, when Biebl was the head of choral programs for the Bayerischen Rundfunk, he invited American choirs to come to Munich and sing on the radio with other German choirs. One of these choirs was introduced to his Ave Maria and brought it back to the US, where it became increasingly popular. Later, Chanticleer recorded it and it became a worldwide hit.
Ave Maria of Franz Bibel, written in 1964, is one of the most beautiful works for double choir and engaging works composed in the 20th century. The lyric tenderness and the rich chordal texture of his Ave Maria are set in a contemplative fashion.
