During his Italian years, Handel made the acquaintance of such eminent composers as Arcangelo Corelli, Antonia Caldara, and both Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, and most of his works from this time (as well as his later Italian operas) show the distinct influence of the unabashedly theatrical Italian style of musical writing. This antiphon, however, is introspective and serene, in many ways showing the influence of J.S. Bach, as much a contemplation of the Virgin as an appeal to her. The relatively uncomplicated and elegant melodic line is shared between the voice and strings, sometimes echoing one another, sometimes in unison. The organ provides an underlying pulse, which occasionally pauses in order to direct the listener's attention to some particularly effective moment in the melody or its harmonies.

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