Salve regina [245]

John Sutton

Full title / Other titles

SR245 Salve regina 3-7 vv ; Ad te clamamus 7 vv ; Benedictum 3-7 vv ; Virga mater 3 vv ; O clemens 7 vv ; Virgo clemens 3 vv ; Exaudi preces 3 vv ; O pia 7 vv ; Funde preces 3-6 vv ; Et pro nobis 3 vv ; O dulcis Maria, salve 7 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble SSATBXX

Qt-G2; Tb-C1; M-C3; Ct I-C3; T-C5; Ct II-C5; B-F4. Entire range, E♭-f’’. The antiphon Libera nos salve[1] serves as a cantus firmus (T) in full-voice sections of Salve regina. Three statements[2] of the cantus firmus are allocated as follows: 1. verses 3 and 4, mm. 26-58; 2. four consecutive segments, respectively, assigned to “Et Jesum,” mm. 75-80; “ostende,” mm. 90-6; verse 7, “O clemens,” mm. 124-35; and verse 8, “O pia,” mm. 175-86; 3. verse 9, “O dulcis Maria, salve,” mm. 219-35. Textual phrases are differentiated through contrast of several three-voice sections and one five-voice segment (“vita dulcedo et spes nostra”) with full-voice segments as well as alternation of duple and triple mensurations. Like other Salve regina settings in the Eton Choirbook florid voice parts within a dense contrapuntal texture prevail. Equally typical of Salve reginas by English composers are the three verses of the trope Virgo mater[3] inserted before the respective acclamations (verses 7-9). Final F, b♭ signature.

1. The sixth antiphon at Matins on Trinity Sunday, and antiphon at Memorial of the Trinity at Lauds and Vespers from Trinity to Advent. Antiphonale Sarisburiense, edited by W. H. Frere, (London: 1901-25), Vol. 3, p. 289. For transcription, see MB, Vol. 11, p. 175.

Libera nos, salva nos, vivifica nos, o beata Trinnitas.
Free us, save us, give us life, O blessed Trinity.

2. Wylkynson’s nine-voice Salve regina (SR271) also contains a foreign cantus firmus with three statements in the T.

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] Ad te clamamus

Polyphonic ensemble SSATBXX

[3] Benedictum

Polyphonic ensemble SSATBXX

[4] Virga mater

Polyphonic ensemble

[5] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble SSATBXX

[6] Virgo clemens

Polyphonic ensemble

[7] Exaudi preces

Polyphonic ensemble

[8] O pia

Polyphonic ensemble SSATBXX

[9] Funde preces

Polyphonic ensemble

[10] Et pro nobis

Polyphonic ensemble

[11] O dulcis Maria, salve

Polyphonic ensemble SSATBXX

Description

The seven-voice scoring of sections of Sutton’s Salve regina could symbolize the seven joys and sorrows of Mary.

Associated people

John Sutton - 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 11]

Harrison, F. L. (éd.), 1956, The Eton choirbook, London.
(pp. 1-11)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [245], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2194/] (accessed 23 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 3, 2025