Ave maris stella (1999)
for mixed chorus
My introduction to the Marian hymn Ave maris stella was hearing the beautiful four-part setting attributed to Josquin des Prez (1440–1521). I have always loved Josquin’s music, and the opening phrase of this setting (“Hail, star of the sea”) is particularly haunting to me. The hymn is sung during the Feast of the Blessed Virgin.
My setting of Ave maris stella begins with the first phrase of the plainchant hymn, which is also the basis for much of the counterpoint (voice-against-voice writing) in the piece. This is a practice borrowed from the Renaissance, as is the alternation between pairs of voices (soprano and alto, tenor and bass) that is a frequent aspect in the texture of the work. The harmonic style of the piece is, I hope, enough in sympathy with Renaissance polyphony (multi-voice writing) that the two direct quotations from the period will seem quite at home. The first quotation is from the four-part setting by Josquin mentioned above (at Mala nostra pelle, Bona cuncta posce), and the second, which follows immediately, is from Michael Praetorius’s lovely carol (1609) to the Virgin Mary, Es ist ein Roess entsprungen (“Lo! how a Rose ‘ere blooming,” sung to Monstra te esse matrem).
—Robert Gibson
duration: ca. 4:30