This arrangement of the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria for 2 solo instruments was composed in May 2007 at the request of my mom, Celia Nicks, who has been a Suzuki violin teacher nearly all of her adult life. One of her students wanted to play Ave Maria on a recital as a duet for 2 violins so I added an original counter-melody that weaves around the traditional line composed by Gounod. The piano part is the Bach C major prelude from the well-tempered clavier played twice through.

I was so happy with the end result, that I made a number of different arrangements for various instruments. All the versions are in the same key so it is possible to play them en masse as is commonly done in Suzuki group concerts or other educational venues.

The performance here is an arrangement for violin and clarinet, performed on Christmas Eve 2009 at Maple Park Church in Lynnwood, Washington USA. Yours truly on violin, along with Rachael Rice on clarinet and Rebecca Rice on piano.

Merry Christmas!

---Matt