Duration: 3′
- Text: Marian
- Mixed chorus
- Oxford University Press
- Commissioned by Janet and Douglas Mackay in memory of their parents for the Canterbury Chamber Choir
- First performance 4 April 2004 | City of Canterbury Chamber Choir/George Vass | St Mary of Charity, Faversham, KenT
Ave Regina, a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary, is the first of a group of three Latin motets (Ave Maria and Regina Caeli) all specially commissioned for the Canterbury Chamber Choir by Janet and Douglas Mackay in memory of their parents. It is a gentle and lyrical response to the “Queen of the Heavens, from whom the light came into the world”. Ave Regina is one of 44 anthems included in the Choirbook for the Queen, commissioned by Prince Charles for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Ave Regina
- Ave, Regina caelorum,
- ave, Domina angelorum,
- salve, radix, salve, porta
- ex qua mundo lux est orta.
- Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
- super omnes speciosa;
- vale, o valde decora
- et pro nobis Christum exora
- Hail, Queen of the heavens,
- Hail, Mistress of angels
- Hail, root of Jesse, hail, gate of heaven
- From whom the light came into the world.
- Rejoice, glorious Virgin,
- Favoured above all women;
- Farewell, o truly glorious one
- And intercede with Christ for us