*  The Feast of the Annunciation, celebrated on March 25, exactly nine months before

    Christmas Day, inspired Renaissance composers to write some of their most beautiful

    music.  

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*  Byrd's Propers for the Annunciation are a jewel among the Mass Propers for all the

    major Marian feasts in the liturgical year included in his monumental Gradualia,

    the musical crown of his long and brilliant career.

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*  Morales's beautiful Missa De beata Virgine is a "paraphrase Mass," with

    polyphonic motives derived from the plainchant Missa Cum jubilo for Feasts of the

    Blessed Virgin Mary.                                                                                                                  

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