Ave Maris Stella (Vespro della Beata Vergine 1610)

Claudio Monteverdi
















This setting of the Ave Maris Stella sung during Vespers for the Blessed Virgin between the monastic choir singing Gregorian chant and the choir singing in alternate verses in polyphony. This beautiful setting and method of singing Hymns and particularly the great hymn for Our Blessed Virgin became very popular in the early part of the 17th Century all across Europe.

Ave Maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix caeli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans Hevae nomen.

Solve vincla reis,
Profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
Bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse matrem,
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis
Nos, culpis solutos,
Mites fac et castos.

Vitam praesta puram,
Iter para tutum,
Ut, videntes Iesum,
Semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus. Amen.