Ave Maria (Motet for SATB Chorus, divisi, a cappella) was composed in late January 2004 and is warmly dedicated to Robert Brewer and Frances Anderson. Dear friends and admired musicians, Bob and Frances have built one of America’s finest adult choirs at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, where Bob serves as Organist/Choirmaster and Frances as director of Music and Worship.
In two primary sections, the traditional Latin Ave Maria text is heard twice over the course of this motet. The first section introduces the main musical material of the piece, returning between new musical statements by the men of the choir (“Benedicta tu in mulieribus…”) and the women of the choir (“…ora pro nobis peccatoribus….”). Excepting two brief return statements by the women and men of the choir, the second section of Ave Maria expands the main musical material, is lush and makes full use of the richness of the eight-part chorus, ending with a hushed “Amen.”
Dan Locklair
Winston-Salem, NC
January 2004
Duration: ca. 4′ 30″
Ave Maria
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. |
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen. |
(Traditional Latin and English translation)