Angelus ad virginem


Angelus ad Virginem is a popular medieval carol, whose text is a poetic version of the Hail Mary and the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary.

Background

Probably Franciscan in origin, it was brought to Britain by French friars in the 13th century. It is said to have originally consisted of 27 stanzas, with each following stanza beginning with the consecutive letter of the alphabet.
Surviving manuscripts may be found in a c. 1361 Dublin Troper and a 13th or 14th century vellum Sequentiale that may have been connected with the Church of Addle, Yorkshire. Its lyrics also appear in the works of John Audelay, in a group of four Marian poems.
It appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's Miller's Tale, where the scholar Nicholas sings it in Latin to the accompaniment of his psaltery:

Lyrics

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Middle English version

A 14th middle-English version begins:

Music

This is the music of the carol, as it is known today, with the first verse of the Latin words:
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Recent use

For many years, "Angelus Ad Virginem" was the first piece of music sung at the annual Bracebridge Dinner, a lavish Christmas feast held at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. It was sung as the guests entered the dining room. This piece of music was selected by Ansel Adams in 1929, who was director of the pageant at that time.