A grand work is for 2 equal 6-part choirs.
This Marian anthiphon for the paschal season is taken from Gabrieli’s Sacrae Symphoniae, (Venice, 1597). An unusual feature is the relatively dense texture, with three parts of tenor range in each choir.
I am indebted to Clifford Bartlett for the following translation of the text:
Queen of heaven, rejoice – Alleluia
for he whom you were worthy to bear – Alleluia
has risen from the dead – Alleluia
as he said he would – Alleluia.
Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
(Bernard Thomas)
