Ave regina caelorum [167]

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AC167 Ave regina celorum 4 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

Ave regina celorum

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

C-G2; Ct A-C2; T-C3; Ct B-C4. High clefs. Entire range, c-f’’. No evidence of chant. Textural contrasts clarify textual/musical structure most notably through a variety of two-voice combinations. More than half of the setting (“ex qua mundo” through “et pro nobis,” mm. 24-65) consists of overlapping duos attached to textual phrases. Of particular interest are two descending sequential passages that involve the entire texture: “radix sancta” (4 mm.) and “exora”
(5 mm.), the latter passage including imitation between C and Ct A, as well as Ct B and T, all at the distance of a minum. The setting is texted only through “ex qua mundo” in what appears to be the Pre-Tridentine text. Final g, b♭ signature, and e♭ (within manuscript source or musica ficta) where appropriate.

Description

Attributed to Loyset Compère by L. Fincher (1964, p. 53). The attribution to Compère is supported by Lynn Halpern Ward (1986, pp. 491-523).

Associated people

No associated person.

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

[1987]

1987, Milan, Archivio della Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, Sezione Musicale, Librone 3 (olim 2267), New York & London.
(ff. 150v-151)

[Migliavacca, 1961]

Migliavacca, L. (éd.), 1961, Anonimi mottetti, Milano.
(pp. 21-25)

References

[Finscher, 1964]

Finscher, L., 1964, Loyset Compère, c. 1450-1518; Life and Works., n.p.
(p. 53)

[Ward, 1986]

Ward, L. H., 1986, The « Motetti Missales » Repertory Reconsidered, Journal of the American Musicological Society, 39, p. 491‑523 https://www.jstor.org/stable/831626.
(p. 491–523)

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Ave regina caelorum [167], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1483/] (accessed 21 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 17, 2025