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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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