Peter Bannister
Felix cæli porta (Ave maris stella)
Duration: 6'
Solos:
organ
Felix cæli porta (Ave maris stella)
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Work introduction
The piece Felix cæli porta (‘Happy gate of Heaven’) takes its title from the last line of the first verse of the famous Gregorian hymn Ave maris stella (‘Hail, star of the sea’) traditionally sung on August 15th at Vespers in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was written for the small 2-manual neo-Baroque organ (2009) by Gerhard Grenzing in the Eglise de la Réconciliation, Taizé (France), where it was played for the first time by the composer on August 15th 2024. Those familiar with the prolific musical output of Charles Tournemire (1870-1939) may recognize allusions to his suite n. 35 for the Assumption from L’Orgue Mystique, one of the high points of Tournemire’s monumental cycle of 51 suites for the liturgical year.
Ave, maris stella,
Dei mater alma,
atque semper virgo,
Felix cæli porta
Hail, star of the sea,
blessed Mother of God
and ever Virgin,
happy gate of heaven.