About the piece
The angel's greeting (“Hail Mary, full of grace”) in Latin, in four voices. The edition, 33 measures long, carries soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
How to prepare it
It is a mostly homophonic work: all four voices sing the same text at once, so what matters is blend and the tuning of the chords. The ranges are moderate: sopranos F4–F5 (an octave), altos A3–A4 (an octave), tenors E3–D4 (a minor seventh) and basses F2–C4 (a twelfth). Rehearse in pairs (soprano–bass, alto–tenor) to hear the harmony before putting all four together.
When to use it
It is sung at Marian celebrations, during Advent, and as an offertory chant in Ordinary Time.