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Questions and Answers
Who is the composer of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
Who is the composer of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
Josquin des Prez
What is the genre of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
What is the genre of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
motet
When was 'Ave Maria...virgo serena' composed?
When was 'Ave Maria...virgo serena' composed?
ca1470s-1480s
What is the musical structure of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
What is the musical structure of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What is the background of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
What is the background of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What are the performing forces of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
What are the performing forces of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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What are the additional features of 'Ave Maria...virgo serena'?
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'?
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?
What are some of the notable compositions of Josquin des Prez?
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What is the characteristic style of Josquin des Prez?
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.
