Ave Maria​… is Josquin’s most popular motet.

Features fewer melismas, voices often set only in two part harmony.

The text dictated the form of the music,

Ave Maria, Gratia plena, Medieval sequence, each voice part from high to
Dominus tecum, Virgo serena. low is in imitation, clearly delineating the text.

Each new phrase begins before the previous

subject ends, creating continuity. Each new phrase
also has increased rhythmical activity.

5 metered and rhymed stanzas follow, each with

unique music, all ending in C

Ave, cuius Conceptio, Texture changes from imitiation (polyphony) to

Solemni plena gaudio, homophony
Caelestia, Terrestria,
Nova replet laetitia. Use of parallel sixth chords, like fauxbourdon (m.
16-20)
Ave, cuius Nativitas
Nostra fuit solemnitas,
Ut lucifer lux oriens
Verum solem praeveniens.
Josquin varies the texture throughout, alternating
Ave pia humilitas, polyphony and homophony.
Sine viro fecunditas,
Cuius Annuntiatio
Nostra fuit salvatio.

Ave vera virginitas,

Immaculata castitas,
Cuius Purificatio
Nostra fuit purgatio.

Ave, praeclara omnibus

Angelicis virtutibus,
Cuius fuit Assumptio
Nostra fuit glorificatio.

O Mater Dei, Final prayer at the end uses simple rhythms and is
Memento mei. Amen. sung in unison homophony.