Ave Maria

The five verses of this lovely Marian assembly song are based on the five joyful mysteries of the Rosary, but presented though the lens of Mary's lived experience as the first disciple of Christ. This piece is a great example of contemporary hymnody: its foursquare rhythms, straightforward harmonic progression, and use of Latin place it solidly in the tradition of classic hymns with refrains such as "Hail, Holy Queen," but the three-part vocal harmony (augmented in the refrain by a descant), slower pace of harmonic change, and use of piano and guitar accompaniment give it a more modern sound.