Ave Maria

(Pietro Mascagni/Robet Sadin)

Ave Maria, madre Santa,
Sorreggi il piè del misero che t'implora,
In sul cammin del rio dolor
E fede, e speme gl'infondi in cor.

O pietosa, tu che soffristi tanto,
Vedi, ah! Vedi il mio penar.
Nelle crudeli ambasce d'un infinito pianto,
Deh! Non m'abbandonar.

Ave Maria! In preda al duol,
Non mi lasciar, o madre mia, pietà!
O madre mia, pietà! In preda al duol,
Non mi lasciar, non mi lasciar.

Recitation:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus,
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.



Pietro Mascagni did not actually compose an Ave Maria. What happened is that someone arranged the Intermezzo from his opera CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA as a vocal solo and set the Ave Maria text to it. This is probably the fourth most-performed Ave Maria out there, regardless of its strange provenance.