VOCES8: Ave Maria, Virgo Serena (Josquin des Prez)

VOCES8 sings ’Ave Maria, Virgo Serena’ by Josquin des Prez at the VOCES8 Centre in London. 2021 marks the 500th anniversary of Josquin’s death; in his lifetime he was considered the Michaelangelo of music, and this motet is considered to be amongst the first ever published. TEXT Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, virgo serena. Ave cujus conceptio, Solemni plena gaudio, Coelestia, terrestria, Nova replete laetitia. Ave, cujus nativitas, Nostra fuit solemnitas, Ut lucifer lux oriens, Verum solem praveniens. Ave, pia humilitas, Sine viro fecunditas, Cuius annunciatio, Nostra fuit salvatio. Ave, vera virginitas, Immaculata castitas, Cuius purificatio Nostra fuit purgatio. Ave praeclara omnibus, Angelicis virtutibus, Cujus fuit assumptio Nostra glorificatio. O Mater Dei, memento Mei. Amen. TRANSLATION Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with you, gentil Virgin. Hail