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OK. I don't mind being the odd man out yet again.

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I first heard this performed by a brass quintet from Paris, France at the University of North Texas. They split up, each going to a far corner of the auditorium. There, they each lit two candles on their music stands and all of the house lights were shut off. Their idea was to simulate the "stereo" that was produced in the early churches. It was definitely an inspiring moment. I was so moved by the piece that I just had to find the music for it.

It turns out, the composer is a lie. It has been attributed to Giulio Caccini (8 October 1551 – 10 December 1618). It has been recorded worldwide as Caccini's work by many famous artists. I recognized immediately that no composer from Florence in the 1500s would have used the complex cords that this piece contains. It was really written by Vladimir Vavilov around 1970. He was famous for attributing his own works to ancient composers, whether or not the style of the particular work fit the ancient composer's style.

I found the music and was given the privilege of playing it in our church on alto sax with organ accompaniment during the Lenten season. Unfortunately, I had to continue the deception. The title Ave Maria is translated from the Latin as Hail Mary. Ours is not a Catholic church and some members might be offended by playing an Ave Maria. So we simply didn’t list any information about it in the bulletin.

The power of this music should come from the solid, pulsing accompaniment. The piano in the first link is the only version on YouTube that really captures this. More instruments add to the inspirational element as in this second link. Unfortunately, it looses that solid pulsing accompaniment that this piece needs.
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