Questions and Answers
Who is the composer of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
Josquin des Prez
What is the genre of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
motet
When was 'Ave Maria...virgo serena' composed?
ca1470s-1480s
What is the musical structure of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What is the background of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What are the performing forces of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What are the additional features of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What are the characteristic musical features of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What are some of the notable compositions of Josquin des Prez?
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What is the characteristic style of Josquin des Prez?
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Study Notes
Ave Maria...virgo serena - Josquin des Prez
- Composer: Josquin des Prez (1440-1521)
Genre and Structure
- Genre: motet
- Musical Structure: Through Composed, with a poetic structure consisting of an opening couplet, five quatrains, and a closing couplet
Background and Inspiration
- Based on plainchant melody "Ave maria"
- All other voices are newly composed, reflecting the exalted position of Mary
Performing Forces
- Four a capella voices
Musical Features
- Sacred motet with a single text for clarity, no polytextuality
- Mostly syllabic text
- Word painting, e.g., "Lucifer" is a high note to represent light
- Frequent use of 3rds and 6ths, but important cadences are 5ths and octaves
Counterpoint and Harmony
- Imitative counterpoint
- "New" harmonic language of 3rds and 6ths
- Changes from imitative counterpoint to pairing of voices (S+A, T+B) in the First quatrain
- Closing couplet features homorhythmic, triadic harmony, and ends with open 5ths
Josquin des Prez's Compositions
- Motets: over 100, including "Absalon, fili mi"
- Masses: 18, including "Missa l'homme arme" and "Missa la sol fa re mi"
- Chansons: over 60, including "El grillo" and "Mille regretz"
Josquin des Prez's Style
- Master of contrapuntal techniques, including canonic writing and imitative counterpoint
- Emphasis on expressing emotion and text clearly through word painting and syllabic text setting
- Employed dissonance in triadic modal harmonies (3rds and 6ths)
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Description
Test your knowledge of Josquin des Prez's renowned motet, Ave Maria...virgo serena. Learn about its composer, genre, date of composition, musical structure, and background.
