Ave virgo gloriosa

Pierre Certon's Ave virgo gloriosa is a sacred motet for SSATTB voices, sung in Latin. This devotional work sets a text that praises the Virgin Mary, comparing her to a star brighter than the sun, a beautiful Mother of God, sweeter than honey, redder than a rose, and whiter than a lily. It further states that every saint honors her, every virtue adorns her, and Jesus Christ crowns her most sublimely in heaven. The elaborate six-part writing allows for rich harmonic textures and expressive word painting, typical of motet composition during the Renaissance.