M036 Quem terra pontus aethera

Standardised text incipit: 
Quem terra pontus aethera
Standardised composer: 
Attribution notes: 
"Gaspar" (I-Mfd 1, index; as part of C12a)
Reference source: 
I-Mfd 1, ff. 131v-132r
Number of voices: 
4
Mensuration: 


Length: 
43
Signature: 
b
Clefs: 
c1c3c4f4
Final: 
G
Music incipit: 
.gdeffff
gdeffffg
.gggdddd
gggddddg
Pre-existing melodies (Cantus prius facti): 

This motet possibly quotes pre-existing material, but it can not be linked to any Cantus prius factus with a corresponding text.

Modern editions: 
AMMM 11, 32-34; CMM 106.3; MCE 5.6
Discography: 
Further notes: 

Additional concordances in mss. that do not transmit motet cycles: PL-Wu 5832 (olim 2016), ff. 11v-12r.

See also the Gaspar van Weerbeke Project.

Text details

Standardised text incipit: 
Quem terra pontus aethera
Liturgical/devotional association: 
Marian feasts and observances
Full text: 

Quem terra, pontus, aethera
Colunt, adorant, praedicant
Trinam regentem machinam
Claustrum Mariae baiulat,
Secreta quae non noverat.

Cui luna, sol et omnia
Deserviunt per tempora,
Perfusa caeli gratia
Gestant puellae viscera.

Beata mater munere
Cuius supernus artifex
Mundum pugillo continens
Ventris sub arca clausus est.

Beata caeli nuntio,
fecunda sancto spiritu,
desideratus gentibus
cuius per alvum fusus est.

English translation: 

He whom earth, sea and the heavens honour, adore, announce, he who rules the threefold creation Mary’s cloistered midriff carries, she who didn’t know the secrets.

The one whom moon, sun and all things ardently serve through the ages, the belly of a girl bears suffused by heaven’s grace.

Mother blessed with a gift, whose highest Creator, he who contains the world in his little fist, was closed up in <her> womb’s casket.

Blessed by the heaven’s messenger, fertile through the Holy Ghost, through whose womb he whom the people desire was brought forth.

 

Correspondences in standard ref works: 

Marian hymn AH 50, No. 72, pp. 86-88, st. 1-2, 4-5
Secreta ... noverat] line not present, see below
Beata] Benedicta (but beata is a frequent lesson)

Secreta ... noverat: compare Sedulius’ hymn A solis ortus cardine, AH 50, No. 53/2, pp. 58-60, st. 3
Clausa parentis viscera
Caelestis intrat gratia
Venter puellae bajulat
secreta quae non noverat.

Further notes: 

The central part of T037 is the continuation of this text.

Music incipit (MEI): 

Sources with this motet