Regina caeli [203]

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

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RC203 1.p. Regina coeli 5 vv ; 2.p. Quia quem meruisti 5 vv ; 3.p. Resurrexit 3 vv ; 4.p. Ora pro nobis 5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Regina coeli

Polyphonic ensemble SATBXX

C-C1; A-C3; T-C4; Q-C4; B-F4; Bc-C1.[1] Sweelinck uses various techniques to incorporate chant (App. 3) into the imitative, contrapuntal fabric of this antiphon. 1.p.: Chant, usually in semibreves, articulates “regina coeli” whereas the first three chant pitches of “laetare” initiate a melisma primarily in conjunct motion that functions as either a continuation or counterpoint to the “regina” motto. 2.p.: Rhythmic motives primarily comprised of minima, semiminums and fusae complement chant for “quia…meruisti,” “portare” and “alleluia,” all permeating the texture. 3.p.: “Resurrexit…alleluia,” significantly indebted to chant, displays rhythmic gestures in short note values (minima) in all voices but also breves and semibreves (mm. 80-92). 4.p.: Like 1.p. the final pars contrasts the motto “ora…Deum” in semibreves with counterpoint consisting of semiminums that span a descending and ascending octave, respectively, in C and A (mm. 96-99) and subjected to invertible counterpoint in B/A (mm. 100-104). With overlapping entrances of the chant motto “ora” in S, Q, T, and A (mm. 114-120) this stretto segment leads to the “alleluia” section with motivic material beholden to the plainsong “alleluia” melisma. Declamatory text setting prevails. Final F, b♭ signature.

1. Sweelinck followed the practice of the early 17th century by adding a basso seguento to many of his motets. For the 3.p. the three voices (C, A, and T) are notated on three staves in the Bc partbook without text. It is likely that the 3.p. is to be performed without Bc.
[2] Quia quem meruisti

Polyphonic ensemble SATBXX

[3] Resurrexit

Polyphonic ensemble

[4] Ora pro nobis

Polyphonic ensemble SATBXX

Description

External link:
CPDL 27339 [Choral Public Domain Library]

Associated people

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

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Regina caeli laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

***

The Trope:

Alle Domine nate matris Deus alme nobis confer praestaque vivere:
Quam [quoniam] te decet laus honor O Domine qui de morte surgebas rex pie:
Fac nos tecum surgere, alleluia.

Bibliography

Modern editions

[Sweelinck, 1979, vol. 4]

Sweelinck, J. P., 1979, Opera omnia, Sigtenhorst Meyer B. van den et Annegarn A. (éd.), Amsterdam.
(n° 33)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Regina caeli [203], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1752/] (accessed 23 January 2026).

Last modification: Nov. 21, 2025