Bruch Ave Maria Op. 61 for Cello and String Orchestra

Bruch: Ave Maria, Op. 61 (Arr. Solo Cello and String Orchestra)

The Ave Maria Op. 61 began life as the Prayer Scene from Bruch's dramatic cantata Das Feuerkreuz (The Fiery Cross), Op. 52, a work based on Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. In 1892, the cellist Robert Hausmann — who had also premiered Brahms's Double Concerto — persuaded Bruch to adapt it for the cello. Bruch transposed the music from D minor to A minor and expanded it, with the explicit intention of creating a companion piece to his Kol Nidrei, Op. 55. The cello was clearly the right instrument for it: the prayer's devotional character and long melodic line suit the instrument's singing quality naturally, and the piece has carried its own ever since.

This arrangement sets the cello solo against a string orchestra accompaniment drawn from Bruch's original orchestral writing. At six minutes, it sits comfortably as a lyrical centrepiece within a concert programme, and works well in church concerts, memorial services, and similar occasions.

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Cello + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Original instrumentation: Cello and Orchestra (Bruch, arr. Paul Wood for string orchestra)
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional
• Duration: approximately 6 minutes
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

This suits professional and conservatoire recitals where a substantial Romantic work is wanted. It pairs naturally with Kol Nidrei in a Bruch programme, and sits well alongside other Romantic sacred or lyrical pieces. It works equally well for church concerts, memorial services, and any occasion where the cello is carrying expressive, melodically sustained music.