This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Beata es, Virgo Maria
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
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Beata es, Virgo Maria by William Byrd — Lyrics
;Version 1
Beata es, Virgo Maria,
quae Dominum portasti creatorem mundi:
Genuisti eum, qui te fecit,
et in aeternum permanes virgo.
Alleluia.
Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
;Version 2
Beata es, Virgo Maria, quae credidisti Domino;
perficientur[perfecta sunt] in te, quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino.
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About Beata es, Virgo Maria
This five-part motet by William Byrd celebrates the Virgin Mary, drawing on Marian texts. The Latin lyrics express her unique status: blessed for carrying the creator of the world, giving birth to him who made her, and remaining eternally a virgin. They also highlight her faith, as she believed the promises made to her would be fulfilled. The music depicts her exaltation above the choirs of angels, and she is invoked to intercede for us with God. Byrd’s setting is rich and complex, suited for a skilled SATTB choir, offering a profound musical reflection on the Annunciation and the role of Mary in Christian salvation.
