Ave Maria (Vavilov, attr. Caccini)

Though often mistakenly attributed to Giulini Caccini (1551–1618), this “Ave Maria” was written around 1970 by Russian guitarist, lutenist, and composer Vladimir Vavilov (1925–1973), who ascribed it to “Anonymous.” After Vavilov’s death, his “Ave Maria” was attributed to Caccini, and it has been recorded and is still often performed with that attribution.

Perhaps the work’s popularity owes something to its simple yet attractive chord progression. Compare the repeated eight-bar changes of Vavilov’s work — Am | Dm7 | G7 | CM7 | FM7 | Dm | B7 | E — to the first eight bars of Jerome Kern’s “All the Things You Are” — Am7 | Dm7 | G7 | CM7 | FM7 | F#m7 B7 | EM7 | EM7.

Regardless of its pedigree, “Ave Maria” is a lovely aria that is well-suited to the “singing” capabilities of the trombone or euphonium.

Organ score, bass clef and Bb treble clef solo parts — $5.99