Gaude Virgo Mater Christi by Josquin des Prez c. 1450 – 1521

recorded live September 15th, 2019
Mignarda's 5th annual Mater Dolorosa sacred concert
at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cleveland, Ohio

Mignarda Ensemble

Anna O'Connell, voice and harp
Donna Stewart , voice
José Gotera, voice
Ron Andrico, voice and lute

Gaude Virgo Mater Christi by Josquin des Prez c. 1450 – 1521

Gaude Virgo Mater Christi is Josquin's setting of a Marian sequence for the Feast of Purification, with a strictly metrical text consisting of six verses of three lines with 8, 8, and 7 syllables.

This performance was Mignarda Ensemble's opening piece from a concert that also featured three settings of Ave Maria by Josquin and Févin's Missa Ave Maria. Performing edition by Ron Andrico, Mignarda Editions.

Gaude Virgo, mater Christi
quae per aurem concepisti
Gabriele nuntio.
Gaude, quia deo plena
peperisti sine pena
cum pudoris lilio.
Gaude, quia tui nati,
quem dolebas mortem pati,
fulget resurrectio.
Gaude, Christo ascendente,
et in caelum te vidente
motu fertur proprio.
Gaude, quae post ipsum scandis,
et est honor tibi grandis
in caeli palatio.
Ubi fructus ventris tui
nobis detur per te frui
in perenni gaudio.
Alleluia.


Rejoice virgin, mother of Christ,
you who conceived upon hearing
the messenger Gabriel.
Rejoice, for full of divinity,
modest as a lily,
you gave birth without [Eve’s penalty] pain.
Rejoice, because you bore the one who endured the affliction of death
and who, rising again, shines forth.
Rejoice, you yourself have seen
Christ born away,
ascended into heaven.
Rejoice, you yourself will also ascend
and be greatly honored in the palace of heaven
Whereby we, through the fruit of your womb, surrendered to us,
may delight in everlasting joy through you.
Alleluia.

Translation by Donna Stewart