Ave regina caelorum [096]

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Full title / Other titles

AC096 Ave regina caelorum 4 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

Ave regina caelorum

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

C-C1; A-C3; T-C4; B-F4. No evidence of chant. Textual phrases are characterized by contrasts of texture and mensuration and firmly articulated cadences. An imitative texture permeates textual phrases: e.g., “Ave regina caelorum” (mm. 1-7); “ex qua…orta” (mm. 17-21); “super…decora” (mm. 24-31); and “et…exora” (mm. 31-8). A three-voice texture (C, A, T) accords with “Ave…caelorum” (mm. 1-7) and two voices (T & B) present “ex qua…orta” (mm. 17-21). Normally, a homophonic/homorhythmic texture complements triple mensuration; in this antiphon an imitative, contrapuntal texture prevails (“ex qua…orta” and “vale...decora.”) Melismas correspond with “caelorum” (mm. 3-7), “orta” (mm. 19-21) and “nobis” (mm. 32-7) in this Tridentine text setting. Final F, b♭ signature.

Description

Although credited to Palestrina, this antiphon does not share characteristics
with other Ave regina caelorum settings by the composer. Of the thirteen Marian antiphons assuredly attributed to Palestrina, all include chant quotations in varying degrees and one has a contrasting section in triple mensuration (AC099). MGG II cites the work as a questionable attribution, but NG II includes the motet as a work by Palestrina. This Ave regina caelorum includes the Tridentine text whereas the four other settings by Palestrina use the Pre-Tridentine text. See Notes for AR082, RC161, and SR191, antiphons also included in A-Wn Mus.Hs.16709-GF but most likely dubiously attributed to Palestrina.

Associated people

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - 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

No information.

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Ave regina caelorum [096], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1412/] (accessed 23 January 2026).

Last modification: Jan. 19, 2026