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    • 2022-2023 Concerts >
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      • Arnstadt & Mülhausen
      • Bach Through the Years
    • 2022-23 Educational Events >
      • BachTalks
      • Saturday Sings!
    • 2022-23 Virtual Offerings >
      • The Choir Loft >
        • Feb. 5 - Winter's Chill - Dianna Morgan
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        • March 12 - The Heirs of Bach: Hugo Distler - Steve Osborn
      • Repertoire Exploration Projects
    • Tickets
    • Donate today!
  • Who we are and What we do
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  • Our Ensembles
    • Sonoma Bach Choir
    • Circa 1600
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    • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
  • Support
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    • Sponsor a Singer!
    • Escrip & Amazon Smile
  • Resources
    • Virtual Offerings - Archive >
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      • Parliamo Italiano! Language Workshop
      • Madrigal Mondays
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      • Virtual Recording Projects
      • Virtual Concerts >
        • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
        • Music for these Distracted Times - Barefoot All-Stars
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Ave Maria by Palestrina
The cool piece is (as promised) another 'Ave Maria' setting. This one is by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, one of his many settings of the Angel Gabriel's famous greeting to Mary upon the occasion of the Annunciation:
​'Hail Mary, full of grace!'.

In contrast to last week's 8-part setting by Tomás Luís de Victoria, today's composition, scored for five voices, hews closely to the well-known and striking chant melody, known to many of you from Victoria's 4-part setting, at least in its first half. The second half is an alternate text and therefore varies from the Victoria.

Take a look at the score attached, and if you know the chant (or get to know it via the above link), you'll be able to track its phrases and their many imitations throughout the texture. I think Palestrina's setting is especially fine, with a careful gradation of pitch levels and very sensitive bridged cadences. I love the five-voice texture, which gives so many more options of groupings than are available with four voices. The excellent recording (also attached) is by The Sixteen, directed by Harry Christophers.

Today's motet is also a glimpse into our 2021-22 season. It is the first step in a journey upon which the Green Mountain Consort will embark in our March, 2022 Sacred Realms concerts: 'Book of Hours'. The concerts will be our first all-Palestrina production ever, and will feature introits and offertories from throughout the liturgical year, interspersed with movements of the incredible five-voice 'Missa l'Homme Armé', with certain famous motets to close each half of the show.

I hope you enjoy today's beautiful piece! As one of our altos expressed in an email the other day, there is something special about Marian music, which in an often gentle and at times ecstatic way introduces the sacred feminine into our musical heritage.
Click here to download learning materials
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