Salve regina [118]

Richard Hygons

Full title / Other titles

SR118 Salve regina 5 vv ; Vita dulcedo 2 vv ; Ad te clamamus 5 vv ; benedictum 3-5 vv ; Virgo mater 3 vv ; O clemens 5 vv ; Virgo clemens 3 vv ; O pia 4 vv ; Funde preces 3 vv ; O dulcis Maria 5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

Tr-G1; M-C1; Ct-C3; T-C3; B-C4. High clefs. Entire range, c-a’’. The melisma associated with “caput,” the last word of the Sarum antiphon Venit ad Petrum[1] at Mandatum on Holy Thursday, serves as the cantus firmus (T) in long-note values of five-voice sections beginning with “salve,” the final word of verse 2 and continuing through verse 6 except for the three-voice section (Ct, T, B, mm. 84-93), “benedictum fructum ventris tui.” A second statement of the “caput” melisma is allotted to the three invocations (verses 7, 8 and 9) using the first phrase of the plainchant for verse 7 (“O clemens”). Omitting the repeat of the first phrase of the cantus firmus Hygons bases “O pia” (verse 8) on the first 17 pitches of the second phrase of the melisma; a complete statement of the second phrase accompanies “O dulcis Maria, salve.” Textual phrases are distinguished through contrast of reduced voices (2 or 3), particularly the three verses of the trope, Virgo mater,[2] with full voice including the degree of intensity regarding the florid style, and mensuration. Triple mensuration defines verses 1-7 and 9 as well as the first and third trope verses; verse 2 (“Virgo clemens”) of the trope and “O pia,” verse 8, are in duple mensuration. Final G.

1. Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawl. Liturgy.d.4, f. 61v. For a transcription of “caput” melisma, see MB, Vol. 11, p. 175. The “caput” melisma also appears as cantus firmus in Masses by Ockeghem, Obrecht and a Mass formerly attributed to Dufay but now considered an anonymous English work; Hygons’s Salve regina and the three Masses may share the same model.
Venit ad Petrum domine non tantum pedes meos sed et manus et caput.
Simon Peter said to him, Lord not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.
John 13:9

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!
[2] Vita dulcedo

Polyphonic ensemble

[3] Ad te clamamus

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[4] Benedictum

Polyphonic ensemble

[5] Virgo mater

Polyphonic ensemble

[6] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[7] Virgo clemens

Polyphonic ensemble

[8] O pia

Polyphonic ensemble

[9] Funde preces

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[10] O dulcis Maria

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

Associated people

Richard Hygons - 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.
(pp. 39-45)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [118], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2067/] (accessed 21 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 1, 2025