Alma redemptoris mater [057]

Josse Lebloitte alias Josquin des Prez

Full title / Other titles

AR057 1.p. Alma redemptoris mater/Ave regina caelorum 4 vv ; [2.p.] Tu quae genuisti/Gaude virgo gloriosa 4 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Alma redemptoris mater/Ave regina caelorum

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

S-C1; A-C3; T-C3; B-F4. The texts and paraphrased chants of Alma redemptoris mater (App. 1) that serve the S and the B and Ave regina coelorum (App. 2) relegated to the A and the T are placed within an imitative and spatial texture unified by motivic material. Note use of invertible counterpoint in measures 9-16 where the two upper voices are restated in the two lower voices (similar treatment in mm. 20ff and opening of 2.p). Of interest is the quotation of the A of Ockeghem’s Alma redemptoris mater for the first six breves of the S and B (See AR078). Both antiphon chants are particularly evident at the beginning of textual phrases; however, the overall formal structure is predicated upon the clear delineation of the four sections of Alma redemptoris mater rather than those of Ave regina caelorum. For Ave regina coelorum the Pre-Tridentine text is employed. Triple mensuration employed for 1.p. and duple mensuration for 2.p. Beginning in m. 71 of the 2.p. a descending sequential pattern occurs in the S, T and B. The statements of “peccatorum” motive and text appear in B (mm. 143-50). Both texts are set in a highly melismatic style. Chant associated with the antiphons is pitched on c. Final e (1.p.), C (2.p.).
[2] Tu quae genuisti/Gaude virgo gloriosa

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

Description

External link:
 CPDL 57521 [Choral Public Domain Library]

Associated people

Josse Lebloitte alias Josquin des Prez - 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

[1987]

1987, Florence, Biblioteca nazionale centrale, MSS Magl. XIX, 164-167, New York & London.
(p. 76)

[1987]

1987, Milan, Archivio della Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, Sezione Musicale, Librone 3 (olim 2267), New York & London.
(ff. 178v-180)

[Des Prés, 1969]

Des Prés, J., 1969, Messe, magnificat, mottetto e inno., Bortone A. (éd.), Milan https://catalogue.bnf.fr (consulté le 12 novembre 2025).
(pp. 86-94)

[New Josquin Edition 23]

Elders, W., 2006, Motets on Non-Biblical Texts. 3, De Beata Maria Virgine. 1: Critical Commentary, Utrecht.
(n° 2)

[Werken van Josquin des Prés 21]

Josquin, des P., 1925, Werken van Josquin Des Près, Smijers A., Antonowycz M., et Elders W. (éd.), Amsterdam.
(n° 21)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Alma redemptoris mater [057], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1221/] (accessed 20 January 2026).

Last modification: Nov. 12, 2025