Sancta Maria (Thomas Crecquillon)

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The Sancta Maria of Thomas Crecquillon really comprises two works with one source manuscript. The 'si ascendero...' and 'si descendero...' designations for the two works are explained in the Description section below.

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Sancta Maria 'si ascendero...'

CPDL #11611: Icon_pdf.gif Icon_pdf.gif Finale 2005
Editor: Charles H. Giffen (added 2006-05-03).   Score information: Letter, 6 pages, 102 kbytes   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Musica ficta clearly indicated.

Sancta Maria 'si descendero...'

CPDL #11612: Icon_pdf.gif Icon_snd.gif Finale 2005
Editor: Charles H. Giffen (added 2006-05-03).   Score information: Letter, 6 pages, 102 kbytes   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Musica ficta clearly indicated.

General Information

Title: Sancta Maria
Composer: Thomas Crecquillon

Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB ('si ascendero...'), ATBB ('si descendero...')
Genre: Sacred, Motets

Language: Latin
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Motetti del Laberinto, a quatro voci libro secondo..., 1554

Description: In the margin above the Cantus part of the source manuscript, the following inscription appears, together with the beginning of the Cantus part transposed down a twelfth, in the bass F-clef:

Canon
si ascendero in caelum, tu illis es,
si descendero in infernum, ad es.


The solution to this Canon (rule) is that the Cantus part may be sung either as found in the manuscript or transposed down a twelfth, becoming a 'Cantus-Bassus' part. The italicized text is from the Vulgate edition of Psalm 138(139), vs. 8: If I climb up to heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol, again I find thee.

Text and translations

Original text

Latin.png Latin text

Sancta Maria succurre miseris,
juva pusillanimes,
refove debiles,*
ora pro populo,
interveni pro clero,
intercede pro devoto femineo sexu:
sentiant omnes tuum juvamen
quicumque celebrant tuam commemorationem.

— Bishop Fulbert of Chartres (ca 951-ca 1029)
Note: * other texts have flebiles in place of debiles (as given in Crecquillon)

Translation(s)

English.png English translation

Holy Mother, aid the unfortunate,
help the poor in spirit,
comforth those who mourn,
pray for your people,
intercede for your priesthood,
intervene on behalf of your faithful feminine sex;
let all realize your help,
whosoever keep remembrance of you.