(By the courtesy of Musica Sacra Nova and the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge.)

Text in Original Language:

Ave, Regina Caelorum,

Ave, Domina Angelorum:

Salve, radix, salve, porta

Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,

Super omnes speciosa,

Vale, o valde decora,

Et pro nobis Christum exora.

​

Programme Notes:

From one of the four Marian antiphons, the text Ave, Regina Caelorum is sung in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unlike other conventional approaches for setting text to music, some words are dismantled from the original to build up various choral layers. Such design develops the musical structure out of the drama of the text. And it creates a musical setting that serves the context with more freedom, creativity and flexibility.