Salve regina [432]

Nicholas Ludford

Full title / Other titles

SR432 Salve regina 2 (3) vv ; Vita, dulcedo 3 (5) vv ; Ad te clamamus 3 (5) vv ; Et Jesum 3 (5) vv ; Benedictum 3 (5) vv ; Virgo mater 2 (4) vv ; Esto nobis 2 (4) vv ; O clemens 3 (5) vv ; Virgo clemens 2 (3) vv ; Exaudi preces 2 (3) vv ; O pia 3 (5) vv ; Funde preces 2 (3) vv ; Et pro nobis 2 (3) vv ; O dulcis Maria 3 (5) vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble

The short responsory Inclina cor meum deus in testimonia tua[1] sung at Terce in the Salisbury rite serves as cantus firmus (T) in the full-scored sections; its text constitutes the thirty-sixth verse of Psalm 118 (Vulgate). Like other English composers of Salve regina, Ludford includes verses of the trope Virgo mater[2] inserted before verses 7, 8 and 9. Verses 1-6, cast in triple mensuration, contrast with the trope verses and invocations (verses 7-9) in duple mensuration. Verse 9 reads: “O dulcis Maria, salve.” Final, verses 1, 8 and trope verses 1 and 2, A; verses 2-6, and 9, F; trope, verse 3 d; b♭ signature.

1. Antiphonarii ad usum Sarum volumen secundum… (Paris, 1520), Psalterium, ff. liv-lij. The responsory Inclina cor meum also serves as a cantus firmus for Ludford’s Missa Inclina cor meum and the votive antiphon Ave Maria ancilla Trinitatis. Sandon, Vol. 2. No. 6, pp iv-v.

2. 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

[3] Ad te clamamus

Polyphonic ensemble

[4] Et Jesum

Polyphonic ensemble

[5] Benedictum

Polyphonic ensemble

[6] Virgo mater

Polyphonic ensemble

[7] Esto nobis

Polyphonic ensemble

[8] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble

[9] Virgo clemens

Polyphonic ensemble

[10] Exaudi preces

Polyphonic ensemble

[11] O pia

Polyphonic ensemble

[12] Funde preces

Polyphonic ensemble

[13] Et pro nobis

Polyphonic ensemble

[14] O dulcis Maria

Polyphonic ensemble

Description

Sandon (1983) has restored the two missing voices of the setting (note numeral in parentheses following sections of Salve regina).

Associated people

Nicholas Ludford - 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

[Early English church music 44]

Ludford, N., 2003, Mass Inclina cor meum Deus and antiphons, Skinner D. (éd.), London http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb41247452t (consulté le 8 décembre 2025).
(n° 5)

[Ludford, 2007]

Ludford, N., 2007, Salve regina, Sandon N. (éd.), Moretonhampstead.

[The Henrician partbooks belonging to Peterhouse, Cambridge (Cambridge University Library, Peterhouse manuscripts 471-474)]

Sandon, N., 1983, The Henrician partbooks belonging to Peterhouse, Cambridge (Cambridge University Library, Peterhouse manuscripts 471-474): a study, with restorations of the incomplete compositions contained in them., Thèse de doctorat soutenue à , 1983.
(n° 6)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [432], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2381/] (accessed 26 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 8, 2025