Ave regina caelorum [053]

Carlo Gesualdo

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AC053 Ave regina coelorum 5 vv

Scores

Ave regina coelorum

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

C-C1; A-C3; Q-C4; T-C4; B-F4. No evidence of chant. An imitative, contrapuntal texture primarily prevails with occasional contrasting chordal passages. The antiphon is conceived in two nearly equal sections (29 and 31 mm.) each comprising two textural phrases that conclude with a D major triad. Although the first section contains adjacent third-related triads, it is diatonic. The most chromatic passages accompany “vale, valde decora” and “semper Christum exora,” the first cast in a series of third-related triads and adjacent major and minor triads cadencing on a B major triad, the second adding a descending melodic figure comprised of half steps to the established harmonic language. Gesualdo’s only seasonal antiphon is the most chromatic example in the repertoire of this catalogue. Naturally, the modal system no longer applies.

Associated people

Carlo Gesualdo - 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

[Gesualdo, 1962, vol. 8]

Gesualdo, C., 1962, Sämtliche werke, Hamburg.
(n° 1)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Philippe Vendrix - Project manager

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

Augustin Braud - Collaborative work


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Ave regina caelorum [053], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1369/] (accessed 21 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 10, 2025