Regina caeli [222]

Adrian Willaert

Full title / Other titles

RC222 Regina coeli 5 vv ; 2.p. Resurrexit 5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Regina coeli

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

C-C1; A-C3; V-C3; T-C3; B-F4. Chant (App. 3), assigned to V and T as canon at the lower fifth and distance of three breves in 1.p. and at the upper fifth in 2.p. also at the distance of three breves, establishes the structural basis for the antiphon; chant melismas for “laetare,” “portare” and final “alleluia” are included. Anticipatory statements for “regina coeli” (C, A), “resurrexit” (B, A, C) and “ora…nobis” (B, A, C) in breves and semibreves forshadow the note values of the canonic voices in both partes; however, in m. 27 of 1.p. and m. 85 of 1.p. the notes values (minums and semiminums) of the canonic voices complement other voices (C, A, B) for a majority of the remainder of each pars. A full-voice contrapuntal texture follows the imitative entries at the beginning of each textual phrase. Declamatory text setting prevails. Final F, b♭ signature.
[2] Resurrexit

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

Description

Willaert’s Regina caeli, one of seventeen Marian antiphons included in Pierre Attaingnant’s print of 1535, was intended for use at Salve services in honor of the Virgin. Pierre Attaingnant’s print (1535|4) consists entirely of seventeen settings of three Marian antiphons, (2 Ave regina caelorum, 8 Regina caeli and 7 Salve regina). As its title indicates (“musicales ad virginem christiparam salutationes”), Attaingnant compiled these works for use at Salve services in honor of the Virgin. The seventeen antiphons, attributed to French and Franco-Flemish composers, include the respective chant quotations, often paraphrased, within an imitative, polyphonic texture. Only two of the antiphons had been published prior to Attaingnant’s Lib. Duodecimus: Josquin’s 5-voice Salve regina (SR128) and J. Richafort’s 5-voice Salve regina (SR230). Willaert’s 5-voice Regina caeli (RC222) first appeared in 1535|4, but was also published in subsequent printed editions. The remainder of the antiphons are available only in Attaingnant’s publication: M. Sohier, AC122; M. Georget, AC052; M. Sohier, SR237; M. Sohier, RC199; P. Moulu, RC148; J. Rousée, RC195; Gombert, RC090; P. Vermont, RC209; F. Bourguignon, RC035; A. De Silva, RC061; C. de Sermisy, SR236; J. Conseil, SR066; J. Lhéritier, SR148; and H. Barra, SR034.

Associated people

Adrian Willaert - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Sung texts

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Regina caeli laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

***

The Trope:

Alle Domine nate matris Deus alme nobis confer praestaque vivere:
Quam [quoniam] te decet laus honor O Domine qui de morte surgebas rex pie:
Fac nos tecum surgere, alleluia.

Bibliography

Modern editions

[CMM 3 - V]

Willaert, A., 1957, Adriano Willaert, Opera Omnia, Zenck H., Gerstenberg W., Meier B., Meier H., et Horn W. (éd.).
(pp. 56-61)

[Smijers, 1934]

Smijers, A. (éd.), 1934, Treize Livres de Motets Parus Chez Pierre Attaingnant En 1534 et 1535, Paris and Monaco.
(n° 6)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1771/

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Regina caeli [222], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/1771/] (accessed 23 January 2026).

Last modification: Nov. 21, 2025