"Ave maris stella" (Latin for 'Hail, star of the sea') is a medieval Marian hymn, usually sung at Vespers. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers, as the basis of other compositions.
Background
Authorship of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century), Venantius Fortunatus (6th century)[1] and Hermannus Contractus (11th century).[2] Probably originating in the 9th century,[3] it appears as a 10th century addition in two 9th-century manuscripts, one from Salzburg now in Vienna[4] and the other still at the Abbey of Saint Gall.[5] Its frequent occurrence in the Divine Office made it popular in the Middle Ages, many other hymns being founded upon it.[1] The "Ave maris stella" was highly influential in presenting Mary as a merciful and loving Mother.[6] "Much of its charm is due to its simplicity".[7] The title "Star of the Sea" is one of the oldest and most widespread titles applied to Mary. The hymn is frequently used as a prayer for safe-conduct for travelers.[8]
The melody is found in the Irish plainsong "Gabhaim Molta Bríde", a piece in praise of St. Brigid of Kildaire.[9] The popular modern hymn Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star, is loosely based on this plainsong original.
Latin lyrics
Beginning of "Ave maris stella" in the 1912 Antiphonale Romanum
The plainchant hymn has been developed by many composers from pre-baroque to the present day. The Roman Rite employs four different plainchant tunes for the Ave maris stella; the first three are designated for solemnities, feasts, and memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary;[10] a fourth is given in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an alternative to the memorial tone. The tunes have been used as the cantus firmus for some polyphonic settings of the mass, including those by Josquin and Victoria.[15]
^Frauenlob's song of songs by Frauenlob, Barbara Newman, Karl Stackmann 2007 ISBN0-271-02925-0 page 100
^Fassler, Margot Elsbeth (2014). Music in the Medieval West (First ed.). New York. pp. 3–12. ISBN978-0-393-92915-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Cod. Vindob. 387, fol. 3v, has a fragmentary version written by a later hand (10th/11th century) in originally blank space
^Codex Sangallensis 95, p. 2, has a full version written by a later hand (10th/11th century) on originally blank space
^Thus in the original, see Te Decet Hymnus, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1984, p. 255 and Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983; Pope Urban VIII's 17th-century revision has preces here.
^Thus in Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983. Pope Urban VIII's text has Spiritui Sancto, Tribus honor unus.
^The word "Hail" in Latin [Ave] is the reverse spelling of the Latin for "Eve" [Eva].
^The Josquin companion: Volume 1 by Richard Sherr 2001 ISBN0-19-816335-5 Page 110
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