Alma redemptoris mater [077]

Jacob Obrecht

Full title / Other titles

AR077 Alma redemptoris mater 3 vv ; Et stella maris 3 vv ; Tu que genuisti 3 vv ; Virgo prius 3 vv ; Sumens illud 3 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Alma redemptoris mater

Polyphonic ensemble STB

[D]-C1; [T]-C3; [B]-F3. High clefs. Entire range, c-f’’. Chant[1] is relegated to the B primarily in long note values (longae, breves and semibreves) but also in comparable rhythmic activity of the upper voices (e.g., “tu que genuisti”) with limited presence in the upper voices. Canon at the octave between the outer voices at the distance of a breve involves most of the “tu que genuisti” section. Obrecht recognizes the structure of the model by delineating his setting into four sections plus a concluding segment for “sumens illud.” Melismatic treatment of the text prevails. “Amen” concludes the setting. Final C.

1. The chant version in CambraiC 38, f. 156v may be Obrecht’s model. Obrecht, Jacob, Collected Works, edited by Chris Maas, in New Obrecht Edition, (Utrecht: Koninklijke Vereniging Voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis, 1995). Alma redemptoris mater is Obrecht’s only motet that has the B as the structural voice throughout.
[2] Et stella maris

Polyphonic ensemble STB

[3] Tu que genuisti

Polyphonic ensemble STB

[4] Virgo prius

Polyphonic ensemble STB

[5] Sumens illud

Polyphonic ensemble STB

Associated people

Jacob Obrecht - 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

[Obrecht, 1968, vol. 6]

Obrecht, J., 1968, Werken van Jacob Obrecht, Wolf J. (éd.), Amsterdam.
(n° 17a)

[Obrecht, 1983, vol. 16]

Obrecht, J., 1983, Collected works, Utrecht.
(n° 1)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Alma redemptoris mater [077], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1241/] (accessed 24 January 2026).

Last modification: Nov. 12, 2025