This Ave Maria was probably composed by Wilford sometime in early 1896. After performances in the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp (in August 1896) under the direction of Kapellmeister Edward Keurvels (1853-1916) and in the Collegiate Church of St Michael and St Gudula (in November 1896) under the direction of Kapellmeister Joseph Fischer (1819-1897), he published the work with Katto in Brussels and Colombier in Paris. He mentioned the performances in the two main churches in Belgium as a selling point on the title page. Wilford dedicated this graceful Ave Maria to his wife Rosa Tercelin.
Wilford left behind a substantial and varied oeuvre, idiomatically situated within the sphere of influence of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms. His works are charming, melodious and richly hamonized. Only a small part of his oeuvre was published, and the great works, such as the operas, were presumably never performed. After his death the bulk of his oeuvre fell into oblivion, until the composer and conductor Vic Nees (1936-2013) highlighted Wilford’s life and work again in the years 1970-1980 through articles and recordings.
