Ave regina caelorum [030]

Hugo de la Chapelle

Full title / Other titles

AC030 Ave regina caelorum 5 vv ; 2.p. Gaude gloriosa 5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Ave regina caelorum

Polyphonic ensemble SSATB

S I-C2; S II-C1; A-C3; T-C4; B-F4. Chapelle includes the antiphon chant (App. 2) as well as the melody and text of the initial phrase of the Marian sequence Inviolata, integra et casta es Maria (“Inviolate, spotless and chaste are you, Mary”).[1] The antiphon melody permeates the lower four voices primarily at the beginning of textual phrases but is treated with freedom as the voices continue. Statements of “Ave” motive include the initial descending whole tone (f to e♭ and c to b♭). The first versicle of the Marian sequence is relegated to the S where it enters in m. 9. A second segmented statement begins in m. 34. In the 2.p. Inviolate undergoes further segmentation; the second statement also begins in m. 34 and is completed in m. 53 whereupon measures 40-53 are repeated to conclude the setting. The Pre-Tridentine antiphon text exhibits syllabic and melismatic styles. Final F, b♭ signature.

1. Inviolata, integra et casta est Maria originated in the 11th century as a prosula for the Marian responsory Gaude Maria and became associated with the feast of Purification (2 February). The chant in Chapelle’s setting precisely conforms with the version found in a late 14th-century antiphonal of the O.L.V.-Basiliek (Church of Our Lady) in Tongeren, Belgium. For a transcription of the sequence, see Willem Elders, NJE, Vol. 24, De beata Maria virgine 2, Critical Commentary, (Amersfoort: Koninklijke Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschieden: 2010), 63-6.

Inviolata, integra, et casta es Maria: / Inviolate, unblemished, and pure are you, O Mary,
Quae es effecta fulgida coeli porta. / Who made the gates of heaven shine.
O Mater alma Christi charissima: / O kind and dearest mother of Christ,
Suscipe pia laudum praeconia. / Accept our faithful hymns of praise,
Nostra ut pura pectora sint et corpora. / That our devout hearts and bodies may be pure,
Te nunc flagitant devota corda et ora: / Which now our devout souls and mouths entreat you.
Tu das [tua] per precata dulcisona: / Grant this through your sweet-sounding prayers,
Nobis concedas veniam per secula. / May you grant us forgiveness forever.
O benigna! O Regina! O Maria! / O kindly one! O Queen! O Mary!
Quae sola inviola permansisti.[2] / who alone remains undefiled.

2. LU 1861-2.
[2] Gaude gloriosa

Polyphonic ensemble SSATB

Description

External link:
CPDL 69757 [Choral Public Domain Library]

Associated people

Hugo de la Chapelle - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

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Ave, regina caelorum,
Ave, domina angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta,
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

***

Pre-Tridentine version:

Ave regina coelorum,
Ave, domina angelorum,
Salve radix sancta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa:
Vale, valde decora,
Et pro nobis semper Christum exora.
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

***

Tridentine version:

Ave regina coelorum
Ave, domina angelorum,
Salve radix, salve porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa:
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

Bibliography

Modern editions

[Sherr, 1999]

Sherr, R. (éd.), 1999, The moderne motet anthologies. Part 1, Five- and more- voice motets from the Motetti del fiore series, New York.
(n° 7)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Ave regina caelorum [030], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1346/] (accessed 21 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 10, 2025