Composer

:

Maurice Duruflé

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

2:06

Maurice Duruflé's "Tota pulchra es, Maria, Op. 10/2" is a choral work for four-part mixed choir and organ. It was composed in 1961 and premiered in the same year in Paris. The piece is part of Duruflé's Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, Op. 10, which consists of four motets based on Gregorian chants. "Tota pulchra es, Maria" is the second motet in the Op. 10 set and is based on the Gregorian chant of the same name. The text is a hymn to the Virgin Mary, praising her beauty and purity. The piece is in Latin and is divided into three sections. The first section begins with a solo organ introduction, which sets the mood for the piece. The choir then enters with a unison chant of the first line of the text, "Tota pulchra es, Maria" ("You are all beautiful, Mary"). The music is serene and contemplative, with the choir singing in a homophonic texture. The second section features a solo soprano voice singing the text "Et macula originalis non est in te" ("And there is no original sin in you"). The choir responds with a gentle, flowing melody, which builds to a climax on the word "in te" ("in you"). The final section returns to the opening theme, with the choir singing the text in a more elaborate and ornamented style. The organ provides a rich harmonic accompaniment, with the choir singing in a polyphonic texture. The piece ends with a peaceful and serene coda, with the choir singing the final line of the text, "O Maria, sine labe concepta" ("O Mary, conceived without sin"). Overall, "Tota pulchra es, Maria" is a beautiful and contemplative piece of choral music. Duruflé's use of Gregorian chant as the basis for the piece gives it a timeless quality, while his harmonies and textures add a modern touch. The piece is a testament to Duruflé's skill as a composer and his ability to create music that is both beautiful and spiritually uplifting.

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