Salve regina [070]

William Cornysh

Full title / Other titles

SR070 Salve regina 2-3 vv ; Vita dulcedo 3-5 vv ; Ad te clamamus 3-5 vv ; Et Jesum 5 vv ; benedictum 3-5 vv ; Virgo mater 3 vv ; O clemens 5 vv ; Virgo clemens 3 vv ; O pia 5 vv ; Funde preces 3 vv ; O dulcis Maria, salve 5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble

Tb-G1; M-C2; Ct-C2; T-C3; B-C5. High clefs. Entire range, B♭-b♭’’. No evidence of chant. The principal unifying factor entails the consistent florid character of all vocal lines. Textual phrases are defined through contrast of mensuration and harmonic goals, but primarily by alternation of either three upper voices (Tb, M, Ct) or three lower voices (Ct, T, B) with full voice texture. The text, “salve regina mater,” scored for two voices, continues with three voices (Tb, M, Ct) for the remainder of verse 1 and all of verse 2 to conclude with a full voice triad (B♭) that spans the entire range. Alternating vocal groups are most apparent with the introduction of the three trope verses[1] that precede the three invocations. To emphasize the trope Virgo mater, contrasting duple mensuration defines verses 1 and 2, relegated to three lower voices (Ct, T, B), and the full-voice invocations; the concluding trope verse (Ct, T, B) and final invocation,”O dulcis Maria, salve,” returns to triple mensuration. Third-related triads (F, d, B♭, E♭, c, F, d, g) accompany “lacrimarum valle.” Final g, b♭ signature (Tb, M, Ct, T), b♭ and e♭ (B).

1. Virgo mater ecclesiae, / Virgin mother of the church
aeterna porta gloriae, / eternal gate to glory,
esto nobis refugium / be a refuge for us
apud Patrem et Filium. / before the Father and the Son,

O clemens! / O gentle one;

Virgo clemens, virgo pia, / Gentle virgin, virgin holy,
virgo dulcis, O Maria, / O sweet virgin Mary,
exaudi preces omnium / hear the prayers of all
ad te pie clamantium. / Who make their dutiful cry to you,

O pia! / O loving one;

Funde preces tuo nato / Pour out your prayers to your Son,
crucifixo, vulnerato, / crucified, wounded,
et pro nobis flagellato / and scourged for our sake,
spinis puncto, felle potato, / pierced with thorns, given gall to drink.

O dulcis Maria, salve. / O sweet Mary, hail!
[2] Vita dulcedo

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[3] Ad te clamamus

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[4] Et Jesum

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[5] Benedictum

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[6] Virgo mater

Polyphonic ensemble

[7] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[8] Virgo clemens

Polyphonic ensemble

[9] O pia

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[10] Funde preces

Polyphonic ensemble

[11] O dulcis Maria, salve

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

Associated people

William Cornysh - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

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Salve, regina, mater misericordiae;

Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.

Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.

Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens,

O pia,

O dulcis virgo Maria.

Bibliography

Modern editions

[The Eton choirbook 10]

Harrison, F. L. (éd.), 1956, The Eton choirbook, London.
(n° 12)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [070], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2019/] (accessed 24 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 1, 2025