Ave Maria, As I Kneel Before You by Maria Parkinson Played by an Accordion Quintet

“Put aside any prejudice you may have about the accordion, and carefully listen to this compilation of Marian music assembled by master accordionist Henry Doktorski. With the skill of a poet, Doktorski has arranged 25 hymns and presented them with varied textures, in every imaginable genre from simple melodic chant, to melody with accompaniment, to all out accordion panache. In the fingers and hands of Doktorski, the cherished melodies soar with lyric fluidity, all the time keeping sight of the reason for their existence-to honor the Mother of God.”-Kenneth G. Danchik, Associate Organist, Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Track 22 Ave Maria, As I Kneel Before You by Maria Parkinson (b. 1956) was published in 1975. This arrangement by Henry Doktorski begins gently with a solo accordion, leads into an exuberant middle section with a five-part chorale for accordion quintet with a soaring descant, and concludes with a coda and cadenza for solo accordion.
On this CD Henry Doktorski performs beautiful and artistic arrangements of 25 beloved Marian hymns from the 11th through the 20th centuries, including five different settings of Ave Maria. Truly a treasure for lovers of the classical accordion, connoisseurs of sacred music, and devotees of our Blessed Mother.
For program notes, see henrydoktorski.com/recordings/...
To listen to all 25 tracks, go to this playlist: • Ave Maria: 25 Hymns to... .