M042 O pulcherrima mulierum

Standardised text incipit: 
O pulcherrima mulierum
Standardised composer: 
Weerbeke, Gaspar van
Attribution notes: 
"Gaspar" (I-Mfd 1, index; as part of C13a)
In cycle(s): 
C13a Quam pulchra es (8 motets)
C13c Quam pulchra es (3 motets)
Reference source: 
I-Mfd 1, ff. 137v-138r
Number of voices: 
4
Mensuration: 


Length: 
65
Signature: 
b
Clefs: 
g2c2c3c4
Final: 
G
Music incipit: 
ggfbgabc
dbbcdefg
gbagfbga
ggdeeefg
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, 54-57; CMM 106.3; MCE 6.4
GCO Catalogue: 
[I.101]
[IV.87]
Discography: 
Further notes: 

See also the Gaspar van Weerbeke Project.

Text details

Tags: 
Prose
To/about Mary
Standardised text incipit: 
O pulcherrima mulierum
Liturgical/devotional association: 
Marian feasts and observances
Full text: 

O pulcherrima mulierum, qualis est dilectus tuus ex dilecto tuo, quia sic adiurasti nos? Dilectus meus candidus et rubicundus, electus ex milibus. Labia illius stillantia mirram primam, guttur illius consuavissimus et totus desiderabilis.

Talis est dilectus meus et ipse amicus meus, filiae Ierusalem.

English translation: 

O thou fairest among women, what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand; His lips dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His throat is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved and this is my friend, o daughters of Jerusalem.

Correspondences in standard ref works: 

No direct correspondence in a standard ref work could be found.

T042 O pulcherrima mulierum

Music incipit (MEI): 
File M042OPulcherrimaMulierum(Long).xml

Sources with this motet

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2
Source Motet incipit Attribution Rubric Cycle / Text
I-Mfd 1
137v-138r 		O pulcherrima mulierum
ID: M042 		Gaspar (index; as part of C13a)
Weerbeke, Gaspar van 		- C13a Quam pulchra es (8 motets)
T042 O pulcherrima mulierum
I-Mfd [4]
134v-135r 		O pulcherrima mulierum
ID: M042 		-
Weerbeke, Gaspar van 		- C13c Quam pulchra es (3 motets)
T042 O pulcherrima mulierum