Ave Maria Orchestra

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cramer, Benjamin Ave Maria for Soprano and Orchestra

Benjamin M. Cramer

Ave Maria for Soprano & Orchestra

Ave Maria was first written as a Soprano/Piano song for my Sister-in-law, Natasha Cramer--who premiered the piece on December 20, 2014 at the Basilica of St. Mary in Downtown Minneapolis, with Chris Stroh accompanying. The following year it was recorded at the McNally Smith College of Music with Maria Vejdani, Casey Rafn on piano, and was engineered and produced by Kiah Brooks.

This piece has always had a special place in my heart. At a time when I was stuggling to find meaning or purpose, it seemed impossible to try and capture the hauntingly beautiful space of the Basilica, as well as present an appropriate vessel for the text. I couldn't even answer the most basic questions about my own religious beliefs--much less imagine I could help bring anyone closer to theirs.--but I felt that that task might help me find some answers.

I struggled repeatedly trying to find the 'right' texture or sound, until I ultimately gave up and sketched out the simplest ideas I could manage in time. The result has been something that allowed me--if only briefly--to connect with what lay beyond myself. Perhaps it was the process, or perhaps it was the music itself, but it made me long for something greater.

The last time I heard it performed was at my Grandmother's funeral--a woman who, when given two weeks to live at age 19, fought well into her eighties, raised two children, was an accomplished playwright and author, and dedicated her life to helping others. She spent nearly a decade of her life in hospitals, and I have never met anyone stronger. I began this orchestration as a way to honor her legacy, and it has sprouted an SSAA & Harp arrangement, and a Chamber Orchestra version as well.

I have missed her dearly, and I sought to do her proud. Knowing her, she would not want the attention or the focus--she would want this creation to help bring healing to the lives of others. In early 2018, a student and friend of mine lost her father quite abruptly. I recall the previous Fall when I was a TA for one of her courses that she explained to the class how her father was her main inspiration for pursuing music, and often spoke very highly of him.

This work is dedicated in loving memory of Ruben Reyna (1963-2018), and to his wife Melissa and his three daughters Ariana, Victoria, and Gabriella. I know that my Grandmother would have asked that I use this piece to honor another who is truly loving, and that it may seek to bring some glimmer of love to those whose hearts are broken.

I ask that you--the conductor--hold someone dearly in your heart while preparing this piece. Do not concern yourself with your own thoughts, but instead try ever to uncover what it is that they would be proud to hear. ~Benj

Áve María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum.

Benedícta tū in muliéribus, et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus.

Sáncta María, Máter Déi, óra pro nóbis peccatóribus, nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae. Ámen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

-- Instrumentation -Flute - 2 Oboe English Horn E  Clarinet B  Clarinet - 2 Bass Clarinet Bassoon - 2 Contrabassoon French Horn - 2 Trumpet in C - 2 Trombone - 2 Tuba Timpani Glockenspiel Suspended Cymbal Crash Cymbal Bass Drum Wind Chimes Harp Soprano Strings

Duration ~ 5'45"

PLEASE DON'T STEAL--IT MAKES ME SAD!

In loving memory of Ruben Reyna - A gentle soul devoted to God, his family, and serving his fellow man - an angel long before he entered Heaven.

Score

Ave Maria

Tranquil, c. 39-42 1 2

Flute 1

Flute 2

Oboe

English Horn

Clarinet in E  Clarinet in B  1 Clarinet in B  2

Bass Clarinet

Bassoon 1

Bassoon 2

Contrabassoon

Horn in F 1

Horn in F 2

Trumpet in C 1

Trumpet in C 2

Trombone 1

Trombone 2

Tuba

Timpani

Glockenspiel

Percussion

Wind Chimes

Harp

Soprano





3

Div.

Violin I

Div.

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Div.

Contrabass



    9     8     9        8     9     3 4 8     3 9     4 8      3 4 3       4  3       4   9      8       9        8    9     8   3     4         3 4         3 4   3       4    3       4    3     4    3     4    3     4     9              8        9 8 9     8 3     4      9            8         9            8      9 8 Tranquil, c. 39-42     3      4        3    4         9                8        9         8         3      4  

1

2

Benjamin M. Cramer

for the Bethel University Orchestra, under the direction of Hannah Schendel

3

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           

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     

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     

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

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Unis.



6

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T T                              



Copyright © 2018 Benj Cramer Publications





 

5



 



  

4



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 





3 4 3 4

7

 



  

8

    

3 4

Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer

10

A Fl. 1

Fl. 2

  





 

 

  

    









B  Cl. 1 B  Cl. 2

Ob.

E. Hn.

E  Cl.

B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

C. Bn.

Hn. 2

C Tpt. 1

C Tpt. 2

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

Tuba

Glk.

Perc.

W. Ch.

Hp.

         

     

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3 4   3  4   

    

              





           

  

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

   

9

 



  





Vla.

   



3 4



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

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

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A

Unis.



Unis.



 

9

 



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     

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ve

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10

3 4

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Ma

  

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3

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13

5



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  

   

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Div.

14

 







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B

      

   

A

  

-

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

Unis.



16



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ve









Div.     3 3  Div.           3 3 

 



15

   

     

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  

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ple - na,

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12



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a,



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       





Unis.

11

ri



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  



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Ma

   

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





17

-

 

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 



Open

  

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18



   



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 

                 





  



17







  

         



 















 





3 4



 















  





                          

















    Div.       



 



9

 



 

      









     



  







B





9  8



  





15

        



 

Cb.





Vln. II

Vc.

 



 

A Vln. I



14



9 Sop.

    

13



9 Timp.

3 4

12



9 Hn. 1

11







     



ri

-

Unis.



 3

Unis.



a,

    3









Div.

 

  

3



18

 

Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer

19

19 Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob.

E. Hn.

E  Cl. B  Cl. 1

              

B  Cl. 2



B. Cl.



Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

C. Bn.



  

   



Glk.

Perc.

W. Ch.

Hp.





















   







    



 

      

 

 

 





 



               

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.





 

  









22



   

-

    



ti

-

 a



   



˙ 

  







  



ple

-



na,

 



Div.

















 

    

œ  



3

Unis.



 

sus. cymbal



19



 

 

 



        











 



     





    



                                           



19









gra

Vln. I





19





  

 

19

21

  



19 Sop.







19 Timp.







Tuba



 

Hn. 2

Tbn. 2

20





Tbn. 1



   

Hn. 1

C Tpt. 2



                                                                                                                                  

19

C Tpt. 1











20

   























  

C



 



  



 3 3







 3  

3   

  

















26







































  





ve

Ma



 



 



Div.

 -



Div.







-

3









22





3









    











 3  









  



Do - mi - nus



te - cum.



Unis.

 

Unis.





 

   



 



23

Unis.







6

 

  

 





















sus. cymbal--brushes

œ  

    A

-

  3



25

 

  

 









ve

Ma

-

   



ri

3



3

3

       

 

  

26







-

3





 



    



         

T 







 





a,

  3

3





  

27







  



      

























 





   



 

   





 



 









 

  





 



 3       3       



24





  



     



   



C



3

 











 







        

  















 





























 





Div.









9  8



28



  









  









a,

  

3







ri



  





  

3



 



   

         





3

         





27

















     

 









   

    

24

3

                                              

œ 

-









œ 









3

21





A







Unis.

 





                                3      

 

    

 







  



    









 





3





23

A

   3

3

 



-



           



   

28





Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer

29 Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob.

E. Hn.

E  Cl.

 



29



                







 







B  Cl. 2







B. Cl.



Bsn. 2

C. Bn.

             

Hn. 2

C Tpt. 1

C Tpt. 2

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

Tuba





Glk.

Perc.

W. Ch.

Hp.



               

 

       



29



Vla.

Vc.

Cb.



3  4

 

  

3 4

    























    





   





















  



 

  

  

 





    





29







  

   





















   

  

30

Be - ne - dic

D

-

sul ponticello pizz.

 

 

ta



9  8   9  8  9  8 

 

sul ponticello pizz.

 

sul ponticello pizz.

 



  



31

     sul ponticello   pizz.      sul ponticello pizz.

9 8

32

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

  





 

 







 







 





  

     

        



    

 





    

  





T 

     





29 



 



 

29 Vln. II



 



ve.

Vln. I





29 Sop.

3  4





  







   

29 Timp.



               

29 Hn. 1

D

    





31











B  Cl. 1

Bsn. 1

30

12 8 12 8 12 8 4 4 12 8 12 8 4 4 12 8 12 8 12 8 12 8 12 8



33

  



 

3



  



 



  

 

   

3

3



 3

3

     



     



3

  

 

3

    



 





 

3

3

         

     

tu





3   

in mu - li - er

-

  i

     

                             

33

7

3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 9 8 9 8 9 8 3 4 9 8 9 8 3 4 -

9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8

34

  



     



  



      



    



     







  



   



  

9 8









  









2

      

  

























 









 

 













 

  





 











































































     



  

     

bus,

et







be - ne - dic - tus

     

34

35







fruc - tus ven - tris

                                                                  

         

36















 



  

  



9 8 9 8









 

     

 

 

37

  

 



36



  





35

  

 



   

    

  

tu - i,

            

   

   

37

Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer E Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob.

E. Hn.

 

    

  

   







B  Cl. 2





B. Cl.



E  Cl. B  Cl. 1

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

C. Bn.

39 





Glk.

Perc.

W. Ch.

Hp.



             

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.











 







    



























 



 









   

 





 



 















 







































 

46









   













47



 



































  































  

   

             

   

  

    

 

38  

38

       



 





























































 

 

 



  

  



 



     



 

Ie

                                                                              

39

 

  





 















































 





 

 







sus,









   

 

  





Ie

-

 

  



                 

-























     





  

T 

  



sus,

 

A



-

41





 

 





   



ve.



   

 

 









F

 

42

43

8

 

 



 

                





Ma



3    4        3  4     3  4  3   4 



 

Div. arco

Div. arco

arco



 

Sanc - ta

arco

 

  



T 

   

 norm.           norm.                norm.          norm.                  norm.           

40



 

-



ri

   



-



 

      

 



a,

Ma

 



 

 







                 

-

 

 

 





ter

De

 

 

 

 

 

 











  







 









  



 





  







                          











38

2



 



  

 









3 4







 



E

Vln. I









38 Sop.









3 4  3 4

45





38 Timp.











F





Tuba





43



Hn. 2

Tbn. 2

 





42





Tbn. 1





41

  

Hn. 1

C Tpt. 2



              

38

C Tpt. 1





40

 

   



-

i,

 



































44



45



46



47

Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer

48 Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob.

E. Hn.

E  Cl.

       

B  Cl. 1 B  Cl. 2



B. Cl.



Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

C. Bn.

   



  







        

Hn. 2

C Tpt. 1

C Tpt. 2

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

Tuba

  

 

Glk.

Perc.

W. Ch.

Hp.

Sop.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.



 

     









 



50





















    















  



51





  



  

 



























 

 



  





















































 

 

  

 





48

                           

48  

 

o

-





ra

pro

48                      



 

  

48



no

-



  

 

  

           

 

bis



  



  

 

  

   

   

 



  

  

 

























 



  





 

  



49

9 8

     





50









G

9 8 3 4

 

51

55

56





  























 

 

























 œ 

sus. cymbal--mallets







 

˙  





 









 





 







  



 



˙ 



3











































 

















   

  





 



9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8









                                                                                         

nunc

 





 



 

 





 

   











 



Open



pec - ca - to - ri - bus,









  Open 

 



  









  

54

                            3 3 3    3              3   3             3  3 3   3 3 3                         3        3   3  3                  3   3                                             





 

 

9 8







 

53

G



  





      48 

 











 



49









48 Timp.



   

48 Hn. 1



 



 

48



3 4





et

in



ho

-



ra



mor



-

tis





no - strae.





                       Div.                      Div.                   Div.                 arco           Div.

Unis.

52

9

53

54

55

         

 

 







 

56

 

9 8 9 8 9 8

Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer H Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob.

E. Hn.

E  Cl. B  Cl. 1 B  Cl. 2 B. Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

C. Bn.



  











 

  

Hn. 2

C Tpt. 1

C Tpt. 2

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

Tuba

Timp.

Glk.

Perc.

W. Ch.

Hp.





 

9 8   9  8   9  8   9  8   

57

 

Vln. I



 

57 

57

   



  H      

Vln. II



     

    



    



   



 



˙ ˙ 



Vla.

 

Vc.

  

Cb.

 



  

A

 

-

 

 





sus. cymbal--mute release

















-



   



















 

 

œ œ  

 



-



   



57













˙ œY  bass drum   crash cymbal 





   



   

-

-



  

œ



 



   

-



   

-







   







































 

































58







































10

59





  

A



 

  

 

   









 



men,



 

 

 



-

                                  



 

                                 





œ 

 

 

 

 





 





































61

                   3 3  3                 3  3 3                        



œY  

3







 













 







    



















 

-



3





-









     

                                            9          8              Unis.  9        8   Unis.

9          8  Div.     



60





 

    

3





 















 





59



 













bass drum



57 Sop.





 







   



 



 



57 Hn. 1

 











 







 



    

 





58



















 

















 











 

 

 

































  

  









 

 



   





 

 



                              men,



A

-



men



                 



                 



                                                                                  

60

61

3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4

Ave Maria -- Benjamin M. Cramer

62 Fl. 1

Fl. 2

 



 



 

63 















B  Cl. 1







B  Cl. 2







B. Cl.







  



  

E. Hn.

E  Cl.

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

C. Bn.





  

62 Hn. 1



Hn. 2



C Tpt. 1

C Tpt. 2

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

Tuba



   

62 Timp.

Glk.

 

W. Ch.







































































































































































































































 



 































































































     



   



  

    

    





























  

  



  

 

Div.

Vla.

 

3 4

Vc.

  

Cb.

 



3 4 3 4

Div.

 



 



  

3



  

62



  





T 

                        

 







A

  

Unis.



Unis.

  

  



   

 







































  

 



65



  

66



                                















 



 





 



 







 





 



 

  

        





 

64



T 



       



men.

   

tutti





-

Unis.



63







T 



   



 

I

 

solo

 



 









3





62

Vln. II



73









72



Div.

Vln. I





71

J



62 Sop.







 

69



  

62 Hp.



 

68





 

67



 









62 Perc.



66



 

   







 









65





 

 

Ob.

I 



   

 

67



11



   

 





 











 





 J

  

69



9 8



9 8



9 8

 Div.

 

  



     





70

T   

   

 Div.

         

         

 

  

   

71











                           Div.                 tutti

Div.

     





 

68



solo





   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72

 

73

Waco, 2018