Byrd-Ave Verum Corpus

Ave Verum Corpus
A motet for the Feast of Corpus Christi

composed by
William Byrd (1543-1623)
(Edition by Drew Collins)
The conversion of England from the Roman Catholic church to the Church of England by
King Henry VIII (and later Queen Elizabeth I) forced those who wished to practice Catholicism
to do so covertly, as penalties included fines, scrutiny, torture or death. All vestiges of the old
religion" were summarily prohibited, including the use of Latin (only English was permitted).
In this highly volatile and oppressive atmosphere, Byrd played a dangerous game.
Refusing to conform to the new religion, he composed music for use in Catholic services (held
secretly in private residences), more often than not in Latin. He managed this rebellion without
loss of life or livelihood, due in part both to his exemplary musical skill and by frequently
dedicating publications to the Queen.
It is widely accepted that Byrd intended his Latin motets for use either in these underground
Masses, or for publication in books for use in homes, much like madrigals. Either way, the music
was most likely performed 1 or 2 singers/players per part, and with female sopranos.
Some of Byrds contemporaries:
-William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
-Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
-John Donne (1573-1631)
-G. P. da Palestrina (c1525-1594)
-Thomas Morley (1558-1602)
-Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
This edition was prepared for the 2001 Trinity Concert Singers
Ave Verum Corpus

SATB a cappella
Pope Innocent III or IV
h 30-44
ed. Drew Collins
b
&b C w
Soprano
(SUPERIUS)
b
&b C
Alto
(MEDIUS)
Tenor
(TENOR)
Bass
(BASSUS)
ve
ve
ve
b
Vb
a
Vir
b
&b
j
#
gi
ce
pro
pro
rum
cor

re
pas
sum,
sum,
im
Ve
re
pas
sum,
im
Ve
re
pas
sum,
mi
ne:
Cu
Cu
16
jus
jus
la
la
mo - la
tum
in
tus
per
n
tus
per
tum

in
fo -
cru
18
in
tum,
n
<
ra
tum, un
Cu
jus
la
tus
per
fo - ra
tum,
ho - mi - ne:
Cu
jus
la
tus
per
fo - ra
tum,
Copyright 2001 Andrew S. Collins

This edition may be freely distributed, duplicated, performed, or recorded.
For more free downloadable choral editions, visit www.InnerVoices.org
ne:
mi
tum
fo - ra
tum
mo - la
12
mo - la
Ma - ri - a
de Ma - ri
mo - la
de Ma - ri
17
11
im
j
#
15
na - tum de
pus,
pas
de Ma - ri
na - tum
im
re
na - tum
pus,
10
na - tum
rum cor
ho - mi - ne:
pus,
ho
Ve
j

pro ho
pus,
ne,
pro
rum cor
cru - ce
ve
Ve
14
ce
ce
Vir - gi - ne,
in
Vir - gi - ne,
# n
4
rum cor
ve
13
ve
Vir - gi - ne,
cru
? b Cw
b
b
&b
? b
b
ve
b
&b
ve
b
Vb C w
cru
b
&b
? b .
b
Vb
William Byrd (1543-1623)
ed. 6/3/2001
rev. 7/3/2002
b
&b
19
b
& b b
un
Vb
? bb
b
&b
25
&
bb
b
Vb
de
flu
in
mor
in
mor
in
mor
sta - tum
b
&b
31
e,
bb
pi
&b
V
? b
b
e,
pi
<
e,
tis
ex
mi - ne.

tis
ex - a
33
su
li
li
su
Fi
Je
su
Fi
li
Fi - li
cis,
Ma
Ma - ri
ri
gu -
dul

Ma - ri

30
prae - gu -
bis prae
Ma - ri
gu -
dul
34
gu -
bis
..

bis prae
..
mi - ne.
..

mi - ne.
su
dul
bis prae
no
..
no
29
mi - ne.
Fi
Je
.
Je
to
28
no
Es
san - gui - ne.
to
xit
gui
Es
.
J
ex - a
.
Je
to
no
mor
32
e,
pi
Es - to
tis
in mor
Es
ne.
ex
ne.
j
.
in
27
<
gui
24
tis
tis,
flu - xit san
23
22
san - gui - ne.
de
sta - tum
un
26
<
sta - tum
? bb

<
sta - tum
san - gui - ne,
un
san
xit
xit san - gui - ne,
21
de flu
de flu
j
<
20
dul
pi
cis,
cis,
cis,
35
J
-
ae;
ae;
ae;
ae;
&
bb
&b
36
37
mi - se - re - re
b
V b . J
? bb
mi - se - re - re
.
mi
me
b
&b
&
bb
re
b
Vb
se - re - re
i,
mi
. N J
me
i,
re
<
? bb N
i,
i, me
me
. J
mi - se - re
se - re - re me
mi
me
i,
re me
i,
i,
w
i,
i,
mi
mi
mi - se 44
.
. .
2.
..
i,
n
i,
40
re
me - i,
<
re
..
me
re
me
i,
mi
se -
i,
me -
i,
mi -
U
w
45
46
w
-
.
-
men.
..
.
J
i,
se - re - re
se - re
se - re - re
i,
nw
1.
se - re - re
43
#
<
se - re - re
me
42
me

39
mi 41
38
n U
men.
U
w
men.
men.
SOURCE: Gradualia, revised edition, 1610 (originally pub. 1605)

CRITICAL NOTES: Note values halved, bar lines added (mensurstriche), slurs added. Tenor (m.39), Alto (m.40-41):
text underlay uncertain. Bass (m.37): Rhythm of beats 3 & 4 altered. Final bar omitted (previous pitches were tied over).
TEXT and TRANSLATION:
Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine,
vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine:
Cujus latus perforatum, Unde fluxit sanguine.
Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine:
O Dulcis, O pie, O Jesu fili Mariae,
miserere mei. Amen.
-Pope Innocent III or IV
(Sequence Hymn for the Feast of Corpus Christi)
Hail true body, born of the Virgin Mary.

Truly suffering, was sacrificed on the cross for all,
From whose pierced side flowed blood,
Be for us a foretaste in the final judgment.
O sweet, O merciful, O Jesus, Son of Mary,
Have mercy on me. Amen.

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Ave Verum Corpus

A motet for the Feast of Corpus Christi

Ave Verum Corpus

Pope Innocent III or IV

ed. Drew Collins

Copyright 2001 Andrew S. Collins

William Byrd (1543-1623)

san - gui - ne.

flu - xit san

san - gui - ne.

san - gui - ne,

xit san - gui - ne,

SOURCE: Gradualia, revised edition, 1610 (originally pub. 1605)

Hail true body, born of the Virgin Mary.

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