“Ave Maria … Virgo Serena” is a short piece of sacred choral music performed unaccompanied by a choir. There are four distinct parts in the composition: the soprano, the alto, tenor, and bass. The motet begins with the soprano part and is followed by the alto, tenor, and bass, with the composer utilizing the imitation technique. In this approach, lines performed by the soprano are repeated shortly word for word by the following singing voices, creating an effect reminiscent of an echo in a cathedral. Eventually, the spacing between the four parts becomes shorter, and the four voices sing the last verse in unison as the culmination of the piece.
In my opinion, Ave Maria … Virgo Serena is a remarkably tranquil piece of music. The imitation effect that creates an echo allows the listener to fully immerse into the atmosphere of being in a church or cathedral, where the high domes can create a resonance. The use of four voices gives a certain fullness and completion to the piece, with the unison singing at the end symbolizing different people being united by religion. I think it is a prime example of a motet and is very representative of its time.