Alma redemptoris mater [021]

William Byrd

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AR021 Alma redemptoris mater 4 vv

Scores

Alma redemptoris mater

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

S-C1; M-C3; T-C4; B-F4. No evidence of chant. The setting exhibits an imitative contrapuntal texture with new material for each textual phrase. The antiphon opens with a lengthy trio for the upper voices that concludes with a motive for “succurre cadenti“ that descends to g in the S, d in the M and B in the T enhanced by cross relations (f and f sharp). Byrd introduces an ascending motive in the B for “surgere” that is repeated a 4th higher. Careful attention is given to text declamation. Final G.

Description

External link:
- CPDL 11671 [Choral Public Domain Library]

Associated people

William Byrd - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

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Alma redemptoris mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes
Et stella maris, succurre cadenti surgere qui curat populo:
Tu quae genuisti, natura mirante, tuum sanctum genitorem:
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud, Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Bibliography

Modern editions

[The Byrd edition. 5]

Byrd, W., 1989, The Byrd edition. 5: Gradualia I: (1605); the Marian masses / ed. by Philip Brett, Brett P. (éd.), London.
(n° 13)

[The Byrd edition. 6b]

Byrd, W., 1993, The Byrd edition. 6b: Gradualia I: (1605); other feasts and devotions, Brett P. (éd.), London.
(n° 5)

[Tudor church music VII]

Byrd, W., 1927, William Byrd 1543-1623: Gradualia, Books I and II, London ; New York.
(pp. 155-9)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Alma redemptoris mater [021], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1185/] (accessed 21 January 2026).

Last modification: Nov. 10, 2025