Salve regina [215]

Leonel Power

Full title / Other titles

SR215 Salve regina 3 vv ; Eya ergo 3 vv ; Virgo mater 2 vv ; O clemens 3 vv ; Virgo clemens 2 vv ; O pia 3 vv ; Funde preces 2 vv ; O dulcis Maria 3 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble STX

C-C2; Ct-C4; T-C4. Chant[1] appears as a cantus firmus assigned to T in the three acclamations, “O clemens,” “O pia” and “O dulcis Maria.” In addition, a paraphrased plainsong associated with the trope Virgo mater[2] introduces the antiphon (mm. 1-7); characteristic of Salve regina settings by English composers, specific verses of the trope precede the acclamations, verses 7-9. Textual phrases are differentiated through texture, rhythmic activity, presence or absence of chant and mensuration. Treble-dominated texture characterizes verses 1-6 whereas equality of voices defines three acclamations and the trope verses; the rubric “Duo” that precedes each verse suggests a performance with one singer to a part. Repeated initial pitches in both voices of trope verses provide unity. The words “mater” in verse 1 and “virgo” in verse 9 are omitted. Final d, partial signature; final a for verses 7 and 8 complements chant.

1. The Salve regina plainsong in 16th-c. antiphonaries (App. 4) and in Sarum use (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawl.liturg.d.4) exhibit minor differences.

2. Text, translation, and transcription of Salve regina and Virgo mater trope:

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawl.liturg.d.4, f. 59. For transcription, see MB, Vol. 10, Appendix 1 No. 6, p. 141.
Maria ergo unxit pedes Jesu et extersit capillis suis: et domus impleta est odore unguenti.
Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. John 12:3

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] Eya ergo

Polyphonic ensemble STX

[3] Virgo mater

Polyphonic ensemble

[4] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble STX

[5] Virgo clemens

Polyphonic ensemble

[6] O pia

Polyphonic ensemble STX

[7] Funde preces

Polyphonic ensemble

[8] O dulcis Maria

Polyphonic ensemble STX

Description

Simplicity of the version of this antiphon attributed to W.P.? in LonBL 5665 primarily applies to C in the first section and the acclamations. The trope verses bear no resemblance to those in Power’s setting; the first verse of the former includes the trope melody as a cantus firmus in the lower voice (Benham, 1978, pp. 28-32).

Associated people

Leonel Power - 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

[A fifteenth century record of English choir repertory]

Miller, C. K., 1948, A Fifteenth Century Record of English Choir Repertory: B.M. Add. Ms. 5665 : A Transcription and Commentary, Thèse de doctorat soutenue à , 1948.
(n° 82)

[CMM 50]

Power, L., 1969, LIONEL POWER Complete Works, Hamm C. (éd.).
(n° 22)

[Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich 14-15]

Adler, G., Koller, O. et Ficker, R. (éd.), 1900, Sechs Trienter Codices, Graz.
(pp. 191-6)

[Dunstable, 1970]

Dunstable, J., 1970, Complete works, Bukofzer M. F., Bent M., Bent I., et Trowell B. (éd.), London.
(n° 63)

[Lane et al., 2001]

Lane, E., Sandon, N. et Bayliss, C. (éd.), 2001, The Ritson Manuscript, Newton Abbot.
(n° 83)

References

['Salve Regina' (Power or Dunstable)]

Benham, H., 1978, « Salve Regina » (Power or Dunstable): A Simplified Version, Music & Letters, 59, p. 28 https://www.jstor.org/stable/733426 (consulté le 3 décembre 2025).

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [215], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2164/] (accessed 23 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 3, 2025