Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
Mary has held a central position in Christianity since the dawn of the church. As early as 250 AD, prayers were being written to her, and her position was solidified by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD as Theotokus, or “Birthgiver of God.”
In the first half of the 17th century especially, composers preferred the often much more elaborate hymns of praise to Mary, either cobbled together from various Biblical passages, or freely written based upon either Biblical events or Church dogma.
All of these pieces were recorded using editions of original manuscripts.
Ave Maria [Libera usualis, 19th Century]
Ave Maria [Libera usualis, 19th Century]
Alessandro Grandi: O quam tu pulchra es
O quam tu pulchra es
Claudio Monteverdi: Exulta filia Sion, SV 303
Exulta filia Sion, SV 303
Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi: Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro primo
Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro primo: Toccata settima
Alessandro Grandi: Tota pulchra es
Tota pulchra es
Alessandro Grandi: Virgo prudentissima
Virgo prudentissima
Giacomo Carissimi: O quam pulchra es
O quam pulchra es
Johann Caspar Kerll: Toccata prima
Toccata prima
Alessandro Grandi: Hodie virgo Jesu dilecta
Hodie virgo Jesu dilecta
Giacomo Carissimi: Salve, salve puellule
Salve, salve puellule
Claudio Monteverdi: Pianto della Madona, SV 288
Pianto della Madona, SV 288
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Ave Maria [Libera usualis, 19th Century]