Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater. Latin, composed by the late 11th century.  Although it is frequently asserted that the earliest manuscripts containing ‘Alma Redemptoris mater’ are 12th century, the earliest manuscript containing the chant is the St Gall* manuscript known as the Hartker antiphonary, (an image may be seen here; this portion of the manuscript is usually dated to the late 11th century). Here it is assigned as an antiphon for the feast of the Assumption. It was adopted in various institutions in France and Germany during the 12th century as a Marian antiphon, used for the feast of the Annunciation in most extant manuscripts (Klosterneuberg MS 1013 [Klosterneuberg]; Vienna,...

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