THE VOICES IN THE HAIL MARY
First, the Angel Gabriel says “Hail Mary, Full of Grace. The Lord is with You.” The Angel’s voice must have been otherworldly, yet beautiful, heard by no one but Mary. Then St. Elizabeth, with a mature woman’s voice said, “Blessed are you, among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” If creating a production of these voices, the Angel’s and Elizabeth’s would have to be clearly different one from the other to avoid any impression of their being the same and flowing together. The “Jesus” might be sung or otherwise enhanced to carry a strong impression of loving worship. A chorus might be used here, suggestive of the angelic choirs imagined serenading the shepherds out in the fields at the time of Christ’s birth.
The rest, “Holy Mary, Mother of God” and so on, to the Amen, might be done in loose combination of everyday voices, such as might be heard when a small mixed group is saying the Rosary. The Amen might also be included this way, although an emphatic finale could be achieved with some musical accompaniment here and an elaborately chanted Amen.
