Composer

Richard Rice

Program Notes

Among devotional prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ave Maria gratia plena ranks preeminent. It is also the prototype, being the first words of praise in Our Lady’s honor, uttered by Gabriel himself at the Annunciation. While the text figures prominently in the liturgy, it has also been a favorite of composers for votive (extra-liturgical) compositions used throughout the year for Marian feasts and devotions. My setting uses a simple SATB texture, with chromatic harmonies entering at “ora pro nobis” and “hora mortis”. 

Sub tuum præsidium, though less well known and less frequently set by composers, is nevertheless a staple of Marian devotion. My setting began as a simple, traditional hymn, which I later arranged in this more severe and evocative harmonic language. Each section uses a one-note ostinato in one part (tenor or bass), around which the harmonic textures intensifies, building to the outcry “libera nos semper”. These two pieces were intended to be companions to my Salve Regina for mixed choir a cappella, which was published by G. Schirmer, Inc., in 2008 as part of its Harold Rosenbaum Choral Series.