Nicholas Ludford was musical director at St Stephen's Chapel in the royal palace of Westminster from the mid-1520s until its dissolution in 1547. This setting of Salve regina is probably earlier than his other works in the Peterhouse partbooks but shares their melodic shapeliness and clear sense of harmonic direction. It is based on the same plainchant cantus firmus as his votive antiphon Ave Maria ancilla trinitatis (RCM131) and Mass Inclina cor meum (RCM132), the three comprising a unique trio of compositions; presumably the chant had particular significance either for Ludford himself or for the institution for which he worked. For five voices: TrATBarB. x + 16 pages. |
