Ave, virgo gloriosa (Galeazescha): A Motetti Missales Cycle from the Milanese Libroni

The motet cycles known as motetti missales are among the most intriguing repertoires of late-fifteenth-century polyphony. This volume features a new critical edition of the cycle Ave, virgo gloriosa by Loyset Compère (ca. 1450–1518), included in the Milanese Libroni (Gaffurius Codices). The editorial criteria adopted facilitate the comparison of mensural choices and other compositional strategies. Furthermore, the introduction thematizes the peculiar characteristics of the cycle, in terms of textual choices, use of preexisting material, and musical design, allowing for a new assessment of the motetti missales as a genre. Ave, virgo gloriosa, consisting of eight five-voice motets on assorted Marian texts, is preserved in full in Librone 3, with three motets also transmitted in Librone 1. The cycle appears with the title or rubric “Galeazescha” in Librone 3, raising the possibility of a connection to the court of Galeazzo Maria Sforza (1444–76). All eight motets bear loco rubrics indicating their placement in the mass liturgy.