May's poem Ave Maria (1896) was set to music in at least 19 versions. Other poems, especially from the collection Himmelsgedanken were also set to music. Carl Ball wrote Harp Clangs for the drama Babel und Bibel for May. The Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck adapted Der Schatz im Silbersee for opera. May's concepts, such as Winnetou's death, inspired musical works.Kühne H. Vertonungen in Ueding's Karl-May-Handbuch pp 532–535.
May's poem Ave Maria (1896) was set to music in at least 19 versions. Other poems especially from the collection Himmelsgedanken were also set to music. Carl Ball wrote Harp Clangs for the drama Babel und Bibel for May. The Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck adapted Der Schatz im Silbersee for opera. May's concepts, such ,as Winnetou's death, inspired musical works.Kühne H. Vertonungen in Ueding's Karl-May-Handbuch pp 532–535.