Ave Regina coelorum II

Guillaume Dufay, a towering figure of the Burgundian School, composed this setting of the Marian antiphon Ave Regina coelorum. Scored for three voices (Alto, Tenor, Bass), it exemplifies the composer's mastery of late medieval polyphony. The Latin text, a devotional address to the Virgin Mary, hails her as Queen of Heaven and Empress of Angels, a holy root, and a gate from which light has sprung into the world. It continues with a joyful acclamation of her glorious beauty and a plea for her intercession with Christ for all humanity. Dufay’s composition, with its careful attention to text declamation and its elegant melodic lines, makes this a significant example of sacred motet writing from the 15th century.