Composed in 1858, but not published until 1861, the first performance of the
Ave Maria Op 12 was given at the Gradener Akademie in Hamburg on 2 December 1859, with orchestral accompaniment, along with the Funeral Hymn Op 13, both directed by Brahms. It represents the composer’s first published attempt at combining vocal and instrumental music, and although there are certain infelicities, the obvious warmth of expression contrasts markedly with the main body of the motets as a whole.
from notes by Julian Haylock © 1991
English