This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets, Votive antiphons
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Alma Redemptoris Mater by William Byrd — Lyrics
Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes,
et stella maris, succurre cadenti surgere qui curat populo:
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About Alma Redemptoris Mater
This setting of the beloved Marian antiphon Alma Redemptoris Mater, with its plea for mercy and aid, is written by William Byrd for four voices (ATTB). The Latin text, a prayer to the Mother of the Redeemer, invokes her as the gateway to heaven and the star of the sea, asking her to help the people who strive to rise from their sins. Byrd’s expressive setting highlights the devotional nature of the text, capturing both its solemnity and its tender hope. It is a fine example of the composer's sacred motet writing, perfect for services or concerts focusing on Marian devotion or Renaissance polyphony.
