“Ave Maria” by Josquin des Prez is a prime example of Renaissance art. Due to the presence of the parties of several voices, this work becomes full and voluminous. This gives the listener the impression of something large-scale and majestic. Four voices can be noted in the work: superius, altus, tenor, and bassus. They start singing in turn: from the highest to the lowest voice. Thanks to this, the listener gradually plunges into the music, and its volume increases over time.
“Ave Maria” is written in Latin and is a classic work of the Renaissance. Even from the name, it is clear that this is the praise of the Virgin Mary. This can be noted in the text: the author bows before her greatness. He has exceptionally bright and reverent feelings for her and is ready for sacrifices in her honor. He calls her blessed and claims that he is prepared to give her everything that he has (Des Pres, 2018). Thus, this text can be called a prayer that allows people to maintain their faith and be immersed in their strong feelings for higher powers.
If I had to describe this music to a friend, the first adjective that would come to my mind would undoubtedly be “bright.” This piece makes me slow down the pace of my life, think about something essential, and immerse myself in the power of art. I would also describe it as a “classic” song as it has many of the hallmarks of Renaissance music. It is also worth noting the “divinity” of this work since it is closely related to religion. Thus, this is indeed a great example to show various features of the studied period’s art.
References
Des Prez, J. (2018). Ave Maria [Video]. YouTube. Web.