Ave regina caelorum [121]

Erasme de Sayve

Full title / Other titles

AC121 Ave regina coelorum 6 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

Ave regina coelorum

Polyphonic ensemble SSATTB

[SI]-C1; [SII]-C1; [A]-C3; [TI]-C4; [TII]-C4; [B]-F4. No evidence of chant. The structure of the antiphon is delineated through contrasts of melodic material, rhythmic gestures, texture and mensuration. Sayve’s setting exhibits a variety of textures including layers of imitative and sustained material (“ave…coelorum” and “salve…sancta”) and homorhythmic style (“gaude gloriosa”). Except for vale…exora” composed for tutti, other textual phrases are introduced by three or four voices. The Pre-Tridentine text is set in declamatory style with appropriate melismas for salutations “ave” and “salve.” To complement the trochaic prosody triple mensuration for “gaude gloriosa”[1] (mm. 28-39) contrasts with surrounding material. Strong harmonic implications pervade the B. Final g, b♭ signature.

1. To emphasize textual/musical structure and complement trochaic prosody of “gaude…speciosa,” triple mensuration and homophony defines Ave regina caelorum settings by G. Aichinger (AC002 & AC003), F. Anerio (AC006), G. Bassano (AC016 & AC017), A. Gabrieli (AC047), R. de Lassus (AC072), G. de Macque (AC076), G. P. Palestrina (AC099), P. Philip (AC106), E. Saÿve (AC121), F. Soriano (AC123), F. Stivori (AC126), T. Victoria (AC136), Anon (AC170), Anon (AC184) and F. Anerio (AC232).

Associated people

Erasme de Sayve - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

Copied!

Ave, regina caelorum,
Ave, domina angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta,
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

***

Pre-Tridentine version:

Ave regina coelorum,
Ave, domina angelorum,
Salve radix sancta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa:
Vale, valde decora,
Et pro nobis semper Christum exora.
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

***

Tridentine version:

Ave regina coelorum
Ave, domina angelorum,
Salve radix, salve porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa:
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

Bibliography

Modern editions

No information.

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

Share

Permalink
Copied!

https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1437/

Citation
Copied!

Ave regina caelorum [121], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1437/] (accessed 24 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 11, 2025