Ave regina caelorum

Ave regina caelorum. Latin, 12th century or slightly earlier. This is one of the four antiphons to the Blessed Virgin Mary whose use was mandated for the four parts of the year by Pope Clement VI (1350); the others are ‘Salve, regina’*, ‘Alma Redemptoris Mater’* and ‘Regina coeli’*. ‘Ave regina caelorum’ was assigned to the period from the Purification (2 February) to Holy Week. In the 12th century, the liturgical assignments of the chant were much more diverse, as the following illustrative examples make clear: Second vespers of the feast of the Conception and in the manuscript's list of memorial chants for Mary: Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek - Musikabteilung, Aug. LX (late...