Jacques Arcadelt
Ave Maria
The famous “Arcadelt Ave Maria” is not actually by Jacob Arcadelt (c. 1505–1568). It began as his secular French chanson “Nous voyons que les hommes.” In the 19th century, Pierre-Louis Dietsch (1808–1865) took Arcadelt’s soprano melody, set the Latin “Ave Maria” text to it, and composed a new bass line, transforming it into a sacred motet for SATB choir, usually sung a cappella.
This arranged version became enormously popular. Franz Liszt later transcribed it for organ (and piano), and it has been adapted for many other instruments, including flute quartet. In modern pop culture, a haunting rendition serves as the Riddler’s theme in the 2022 film The Batman.
Practice Files
Other Versions
This is what we would like to sound like (and there's no reason that we can't). Chœur de Chambre de | Namur Chamber Choir. Jacques Arcadelt was born in Namur! The Namur Chamber Choir takes possession of it with accuracy and emotion under the direction of Leonardo García Alarcón. Listen out for the dynamics, and also the vowel sounds (particularly during the 'Sancta Maria' section.