Salve regina [053]

John Browne

Full title / Other titles

SR053 Salve regina 2-5 vv ; benedictum 3-5 vv ; Virgo mater/O clemens 3-5 vv ; Virgo clemens/O pia 2-5 vv ; Funde preces 3-5 vv ; O dulcis Maria, salve 5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

Tb-C2; M-C3; T-C3; Ct-C4; B-C5. Entire range, B♭-b♭’. No evidence of Salve regina chant. The antiphon, Venit dilectus meus[1], the sixth antiphon at Matins on Assumption B.V.M. (Aug. 15), primarily disposed in long-note values (T) manifests minimal melodic influence upon other voices; though present only in five-voice sections, the disposition of the plainsong markedly affects the formal structure. The entrance of the cantus firmus coincides with “salve” (m. 14), the final word of verse 2, and except for an interruption of a six-measure duo (Tb and T), continues through “Et Jesum,” the beginning of verse 6; the remaining portion of the plainsong underscores “nobis…ostende,” the conclusion of verse 6. A second statement of the cantus firmus pairs the first six pitches with “O clemens,” the first ten pitches with “O pia” and the rest of the antiphon with “O dulcis Maria, salve.” Contrast of the dense five-voice texture with two and three voice sections delineates textual phrases; the three verses of the trope Virgo mater[1] are scored for three voices except for the conclusion of verse 3 (“et pro nobis…potato”) for 4/5 voices. Triple mensuration defines verses 1 through 7 (mm. 1-121); the remainder of the motet (mm. 122-237) is in duple mensuration. Text setting combines syllabic and melismatic styles that complements the florid nature of the voices. Final C, b♭ signature.

1. Antiphonale Sarisburiense, edited by W. H. Frere, (London, 1901-25), 495. For transcription see MB, Vol. 10, Appendix I, No. 11, p. 175.
Venit dilectus meus in hortum suum ut comedat fructum pomorum suorum.
May my beloved enter into his garden and eat the fruit of his apple trees. Song of Solomon 5:1

2. Virgo mater ecclesiae, / Virgin mother of the church
aeterna porta gloriae, / eternal gate to glory,
esto nobis refugium / be a refuge for us
apud Patrem et Filium. / before the Father and the Son,

O clemens! / O gentle one;

Virgo clemens, virgo pia, / Gentle virgin, virgin holy,
virgo dulcis, O Maria, / O sweet virgin Mary,
exaudi preces omnium / hear the prayers of all
ad te pie clamantium. / Who make their dutiful cry to you,

O pia! / O loving one;

Funde preces tuo nato / Pour out your prayers to your Son,
crucifixo, vulnerato, / crucified, wounded,
et pro nobis flagellato / and scourged for our sake,
spinis puncto, felle potato, / pierced with thorns, given gall to drink.

O dulcis Maria, salve. / O sweet Mary, hail!
Bucheti (fl c1475-95)
[2] Benedictum

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[3] Virgo mater/O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[4] Virgo clemens/O pia

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[5] Funde preces

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[6] O dulcis Maria, salve

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

Associated people

John Browne - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

Associated sources

Sung texts

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Salve, regina, mater misericordiae;

Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.

Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.

Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens,

O pia,

O dulcis virgo Maria.

Bibliography

Modern editions

[The Eton choirbook 11]

Harrison, F. L. (éd.), 1956, The Eton choirbook, London.
(n° 21)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [053], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2002/] (accessed 20 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 1, 2025