Beata viscera

This text is used at all times in the Roman rite except during Advent as the Communion motet of the Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin. A longer version of the same also forms the 7th Respond at Matins on Christmas Day.

Musical settings at CPDL

Anonymous Jena choirbooks (early 16c) 5 settings, all for 4 voices Beata viscera I (D-Ju MS 33) Beata viscera II (D-Ju MS 33) Beata viscera III (D-Ju MS 33) Beata viscera IV (D-Ju MS 33) Gregor Aichinger SATB (Comm.) William Byrd SATTB or ATTBarB (Comm., + Alleluia) Corsican chant TTB (Comm. adding verse "Eructavit") Mattia Culmone SAB (Comm. w/ Alleluia)

Marco Antonio Ingegneri SATTB (Responsory) Heinrich Isaac, all Communions for Visitation (CC ii) for Presentation (CC ii) Common BMV SATB (CC iii) a 3, part of a plenary mass possibly by Senfl Nobuaki Izawa SATB (Comm.) Claudio Merulo SSATTB (Comm.) José Maurício Nunes Garcia (Matines do Natal) SATB & bc (Responsory w/ "Dies sanctificatus") Giacomo Antonio Perti SATB violin & bc (Responsory for Christmas Matins with "Dies sanctificatus".) Andrea Rota SATB.SATB (Responsory, adding "Dies sanctificatus" and "Alleluia") Ludwig Senfl ATTB (Comm.)

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Anonymous — Beata Viscera V (D-Ju MS 35)

Texts with same incipit are Beata viscera (Pérotin) and Beata viscera (Worcester fragments) (Anonymous) "Beata viscera Mariae virginis, quae fructu…")

Text and translations

The text below in bold is common to both Communion and Respond; that in normal font belongs only to the Respond, while the Alleluia is used for the Communion during Paschal Time.

Latin text Beata viscera Mariae Virginis, quae portaverunt aeterni Patris Filium; [Alleluia.] et beata ubera, quæ lactaverunt Christum Dominum: qui hodie pro salute mundi de Virgine nasci dignatus est. Verse Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis: venite gentes et adorate Dominum. Verse for the Communion Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum; dico ego opera mea regi. (Ps. 44:1)

English translation Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, that bore the son of the everlasting Father: [Alleluia] and blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ the Lord: Who as on this day did vouchsafe to be born of the Virgin for the salvation of the world. Verse A most holy day has dawned for us: come, nations, and worship the Lord. for the Communion only: My heart is inditing of a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made unto the King. (Ps. 45:1)