Ave Maria … virgo serena

Josquin des Prez

Key

F

Time

C

Tempo

♩=60

AO focus

AO3

Form

Motet for SATB. The most-anthologised work of the High Renaissance. Five sections matching the five 'Ave' salutations of the text; each section uses different polyphonic devices (canon, paired duet, homophony).

Teaching points

• Five sections, five techniques — listen for: (i) imitative entries, (ii) paired duets in thirds, (iii) full four-part homophony, (iv) chant-like declamation, (v) closing prayer
• Imitation at the unison — the opening four entries all begin on F, a fifth or octave apart
• AO3: this is the foundational motet of Western polyphony — every Renaissance composer studied it