Salve regina [198]

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

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SR198 Salve regina 4 vv Chorus I ; [2.p.] Ad te clamamus 4 vv Chorus II ; [3.p.] Eja ergo 4 vv Chorus III ; [4.p.] Et Jesum 8 vv Chorus I and II ; [5.p.] O clemens 12 vv Chorus I, II and III

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

Chorus I

Three equal choirs. C-G2; A-C2; T-C3; B-F3. High clefs. Entire range, c-g’’. “Salve” intonation in T. Chant influence is limited to initial statements of “regina” in C (mm. 1-4) and B (mm. 4-8). Verse 5 (3.p.), the centerpiece, is surrounded by partes that consist of parallel verses 1 and 2, 3 and 4, the single verse of 4.p. and the three acclamations (5.p.). The symmetry of text distribution does not extend to antiphonal treatment that is based on a progression of alternating partes (verses 1 and 2, Chr. I; verses 3 and 4, Chr. II; verse 5, Chr. III; verse 6, Chrs. I and II; verses 7-9, Chrs. I, II, and III) to alternating textual phrases or words. Pars 4 opens with four overlapping statements of “Et Jesum” (mm. 84-92) and closes with five alternating repetitions of “ostende” (mm. 109-13). Alternation of material between three choirs characterizes 5.p. Concurrent with an evolving antiphonal treatment is the change from an imitative, contrapuntal texture to homophony. Descending melodic lines depict text “in hac lacrimarum valle.” The word “mater” is omitted in verse 1. Harmonic rhythm of one change per measure is typical of multiple choir sections. Final g, b♭ signature.
[2] Ad te clamamus

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

Chorus II
[3] Eja ergo

Polyphonic ensemble SATB

Chorus III
[4] Et Jesum

Polyphonic ensemble SSAATTBB

Chorus I and II
[5] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble SSSAAATTTBBB

Chorus I, II and III

Associated people

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina - Composer

Creation place and date

No information.

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

[Palestrina, 1937, vol. 5]

Palestrina, G. P. da, 1937, Le opere complete, Casimiri R. (éd.), Rome.
(pp. 427-48)

[Pierluigi da Palestrina's Werke 26]

Palestrina, P. da, s. d., Pierluigi da Palestrina’s Werke, Haberl F. X. et Espagne F. (éd.), Leipzig.
(n° 6)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [198], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2147/] (accessed 20 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 3, 2025