Salve regina [237]

Mathieu Sohier

Full title / Other titles

SR237 Salve regina 4 vv ; [2.p.] Eia ergo 3 vv ; [3.p.] Et Jesum 4 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble STBX

S-C1; Ct-C3; T-C4; B-F4. Within an imitative texture of overlapping phrases, chant (App. 4) is intact at the beginning of most textual phrases but is treated with freedom as voices unfold. On the other hand, verse 2, “vita…,” includes plainsong for the entire phrase with the addition of “salve/vita” motto coupled with “nostra” (Ct, mm. 27-8) and “salve” (T, mm. 30-1; B, mm. 33-4). Chant as a cantus firmus primarily in breves and semibreves distinguishes “Et Jesum” (S, mm. 105-11), verse 7, “O clemens” (Ct, mm. 141-5) and verse 8, “O pia” (Ct, mm. 148-53). The tripartite structure of the antiphon is underscored by the reduction of voices (S, Ct, T) for 2.p. (verse 5). The words “mater” of verse 1 and “virgo” of verse 9 are omitted. A combination of syllabic and melismatic styles defines the text setting. Final g, b♭ signature.
[2] Eia ergo

Polyphonic ensemble

[3] Et Jesum

Polyphonic ensemble STBX

Description

Sohier’s Salve regina, 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

Mathieu Sohier - 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

[Smijers, 1934]

Smijers, A. (éd.), 1934, Treize Livres de Motets Parus Chez Pierre Attaingnant En 1534 et 1535, Paris and Monaco.
(n° 3)

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [237], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2186/] (accessed 20 January 2026).

Last modification: Nov. 26, 2025