Polorum regina (Llibre Vermell)

Details

Description

A ball redon (= chant to be sung during a round dance)
The left page = folio from the Llibre Vermell with this song/dance.

Amateur recording made at a concert of the Antwerp Collegium Musicum (dir. Willem Ceuleers): Sept 26th, 2010 in Antwerp
Church of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Sneeuw (Our Lady of the Snows), a church (notoriuously) famous for its acoustics.

Polorum regina omnium nostra
Stella matutina dele scelera
Ante partum virgo deo gravida.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera
Et in partu virgo deo fecunda.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera
Et post partum virgo mater enixa.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera.

Our queen encompassing all of heaven,
"morning star, take away our sins."
Before birth, Virgin, pregnant by God,
you remained always inviolate.
And in labour, Virgin, fertile by God,
you remained always inviolate.
And after birth, Virgin, child-bearing mother
you remained always inviolate.

About the Llibre Vermell :
The purpose of the compilation is made clear by its anonymous compiler himself:
"Because the pilgrims wish to sing and dance while they keep their watch [...] and in the church no songs should be sung unless they are chaste and pious, for that reason these songs have been compiled..."

MORE: https://dick.wursten.be/Vermell_originaltexts_translations.htm