Ave Regina coelorum a 6 (1604)

Orlando di Lasso's Ave Regina coelorum a 6 is a setting of a beautiful Latin Marian antiphon. The text addresses Mary as Queen of Heaven and Lady of Angels, a holy root and gate from which light has sprung for the world. It rejoices in her glorious beauty, praying that she will always intercede for us with Christ. Lasso's masterful six-part writing (SAATBB) responds to the text's varied devotional scope, from the solemn address of the opening lines to the exultant prayer of the conclusion. This motet, composed around 1604, is a powerful example of Renaissance sacred polyphony, perfectly suited for liturgical use or choral concerts.