Ave regina caelorum [140]

Gaspar van Weerbeke

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AC140 Ave regina caelorum 4 vv ; [2.p.] Gaude gloriosa 4 vv ; [3.p.] Vale valde decora 4 vv ; [4.p.] et pro nobis 4 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Ave regina caelorum

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

[C]-C3; [A]-C4; T-C3; B-F4.[1] Range of voices: C, e-b♭’; A, B♭-e’; T, B♭-c’; B, E♭-g. Entire range, E♭-b♭’. A slightly paraphrased chant (App. 2) serves as cantus firmus (T); chant permeates the imitative texture at beginning of textural phrases (e.g., “vale,” wherein B, A, & C precede the entrance of the cantus firmus, mm. 116-125). Passages in parallel tenths (e.g., B/C, share a motive in a descending sequence, mm. 33-37) as well as simultaneous thirds and sixths (e.g., C, A, & B, also in a sequential pattern, mm. 44-47) characterize the antiphon. Triple mensuration for pars 1 (mm. 1-54) and the concluding textual phrase of 4.p. (“Et pro nobis…exora.” mm. 150-166) contrast with duple mensuration of the two middle partes. A melismatic text setting defines the Pre-Tridentine text with limited concern for underlay of text. Final F, b♭ signature.

1. The term “Contra” is employed for partes 1 and 2 and “Bassus” for pars 3; however, there appears to be no distinction in range or character.
[2] Gaude gloriosa

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

[3] Vale valde decora

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

[4] Et pro nobis

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

Associated people

Gaspar van Weerbeke - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

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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

[CMM 106 - IV]

Weerbeke, G. van, 2010, Gaspar van Weerbeke, Collected Works, Pavanello A. (éd.).
(n° 3)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Ave regina caelorum [140], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1456/] (accessed 27 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 12, 2025