Salve regina [320]

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SR320 Salve regina 2-5 vv ; Ad te clamamus 3-5 vv ; Benedictum 4-5 vv ; Virgo mater 3 vv ; O clemens 3-5 vv ; Dele culpas 3-5 vv

Type

Motet

Scores

[1] Salve regina

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[Tb]-G2; [M]-C2; [Ct]-C4; [T]-C4; [B]-F4. Entire range, F-f’’. Although the character of the T suggests a cantus firmus derived from plainsong repertoire, evidence, albeit limited, alludes to the presence of the antiphon Libera nos salve nos,[1] a chant systematically arranged in Sutton’s Salve regina (SR245). Most promising is the quotation accompanying “gementes…valle,” the conclusion of verse 4 and the beginning of verse 5, “Eya…nostra” (mm. 67-88); less convincing are “quotations” related to “O pia” (mm. 184-8) and the final word “salve” of verse 9 (mm. 264-9). Structurally, this Salve regina considerably differs from other settings that include the trope “Virgo mater”;[2] normally, verses or half verses and the three acclamations are closed. Following the conclusion of verse 6, the text “O dulcis Maria of verse 9 is inserted (mm. 118-23). Whereas verse 1, “Virgo mater,” is closed, the subsequent three antiphon verses surround and overlap with the trope verses “Virgo clemens” and “Funde preces” and thus, constitute a complete entity (mm. 146-213). A fourth trope verse “Dele culpas” elides with a final statement of the three acclamations, “O clemens,” “O pia” and “O dulcis Maria, salve” (mm. 214-69). Brief imitative passages introduce “Virgo clemens” (mm. 156-8), “virgo pia” (mm. 161-4) and “crucifixo” (mm. 192-3) within a contrapuntal texture of florid vocal lines. Textual phrases and verses are differentiated through contrasting two-, three-and four-voice sections with full voice segments as well as triple and duple mensurations. The word “et” is inserted before “illos misercordes” of verse 5. Final F.

1. The sixth antiphon at Matins on Trinity Sunday, and antiphon at Memorial of the Trinity at Lauds and Vespers from Trinity to Advent. Antiphonale Sarisburiense, edited by W. H. Frere, (London: 1901-25), Vol. 3, p. 289. For transcription, see MB, Vol. 11, p. 175.

Libera nos, salva nos, vivifica nos, o beata Trinnitas.
Free us, save us, give us life, O blessed Trinity.

A transcription of Libera nos salve nos is also available in RCM 31, p. vii.

2. Text and translation of verses 1-3:
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!
Text and translation of verse 4, “Dele culpas.”:
Dele culpas miserorum; / Expunge the sins of the doomed
terge sordes peccatorum; / wipe away the stains of sinners;
dona nobis beatorum / give to us the life of the blessed
vitam tuis precibus. / through your prayers.
[2] Ad te clamamus

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[3] Benedictum

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[4] Virgo mater

Polyphonic ensemble

[5] O clemens

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

[6] Dele culpas

Polyphonic ensemble SATBX

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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

[Sandon, 2006]

Sandon, N., 2006, The Lambeth anonymous Salve regina, Moretonhampstead.

References

No information.

Contributors

Harry Elzinga - Project manager ; Scientific editor

Ailin Arjmand - Collaborative work

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Salve regina [320], in RicercarDataLab [https://ricercardatalab.cesr.univ-tours.fr/works/2269/] (accessed 21 January 2026).

Last modification: Dec. 4, 2025