MOTETS
NEW for 2023: A series of Latin Motets, written by Peter Rose
and arranged for Solo Voice with SATB or SSA Choir & Piano/Organ
1) MEMORARE
The Memorare is a prayer seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is adapted from a longer 15th-century prayer titled “Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes, dulcissima Virgo Maria”
St Francis de Sales said that he sought the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary who saved him from falling into despair or heresy. He always fell on his knees and prayed the Memorare before the statue of Our Lady of Good Deliverance (the Black Madonna) at the church of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Paris.
The Memorare prayer was popularized by Fr. Claude Bernard in the 17th century. He promoted the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary among the poor and condemned prisoners under the title Consolatrix Afflictorum (Comforter of the Afflicted).
MEMORARE
Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria,
a saeculo non esse auditum, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua patentem suffragia, esse derelictum.
Ego tali animatus confidentia,
Ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro;
ad te venio,
coram te gemens peccator assisto.
Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere;
sed audi propitia et exaudi.
Amen.
MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come;
before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen
This Motet is now available as a PDF download with licences to download and print:
RCM2128PD (Vocal Score) Solo Voice, SATB Choir, Piano/Organ
RCM2129PD (Voice & SATB Choir Part Only)
RCM2130PD (Vocal Score) Solo Voice, SSA Choir, Piano/Organ
RCM2131PD (Voice & SSA Choir Part Only)
2) SALVE REGINA
This Marian antiphon was traditionally sung at Compline beginning from Trinity Sunday through Friday before the first Sunday of Advent.
The text of the antiphon (the familiar prayer "Hail, Holy Queen") has been attributed to several writers, such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux,
Adhemar of Puy, Bishop Peter of Compostela (c. 952–1002), and Hermanus Contractus of Reichenau.
Stylistic features of the text, and the fact that it was added as an embellishment or interpolation to the sung parts of the Mass as early as the late 11th century, point to Hermanus as probable author.
SALVE REGINA
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.
SALVE REGINA
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us
and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
This Motet is now available as a PDF download with licences to download and print:
RCM2132PD (Vocal Score) Solo Voice, SATB Choir, Piano/Organ
RCM2133PD (Voice & SATB Choir Part Only)
RCM2134PD (Vocal Score) Solo Voice, SSA Choir, Piano/Organ
RCM2135PD (Voice & SSA Choir Part Only)
3) AVE MARIS STELLA
AVE MARIS STELLA
Ave, maris stella,
Dei mater alma,
atque semper virgo,
Felix cæli porta.
Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Evæ nomen.
Solve vincla reis,
profer lumen cæcis,
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.
Monstra te esse matrem,
sumat per te precem
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.
Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.
Vitam præsta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Jesum
semper collætemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto
tribus honor unus.
Amen
AVE MARIS STELLA
HAIL, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav'nly rest.
Taking that sweet Ave,
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve's name
Break the sinners' fetters,
make our blindness day,
Chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.
Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine
born for us thine Infant
hear our prayers through thine.
Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us
meek and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure
till we find in Jesus,
joy for evermore.
Praise to God the Father,
honor to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one.
Amen.