REGINA COELI

When the Easter season arrives, choirs set aside the Salve Regina and take up the Regina Coeli. This setting by Gregor Aichinger captures the bright, soaring joy of the Resurrection. The Latin words invite the Blessed Virgin Mary to rejoice—"laetare"—because the Son she was worthy to bear has risen as He promised.

Aichinger’s arrangement is a classic piece of polyphony that brings a sense of reverence and celebration to the choir loft. The voices weave together, passing the "alleluia" phrases back and forth in a way that feels both structured and wonderfully alive. We often sing this during Eastertide Masses, especially as a Communion motet or a recessional, letting the bright major chords ring out through the church.

For the singers, mastering the independent vocal lines in verses like "Quia quem meruisti portare" requires careful listening and balance. But when the parts align and return to the familiar opening refrain, the result is a deeply moving prayer that lifts the hearts of the whole congregation.