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Tota pulchra es, Maria et macula originalis non est in te. Vestimentum tuum candidum quasi nix, et facies tua sicut sol. Tu gloria Jerusalem, tu laetitia lsrael, tu honorificentia populi nostri.
The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , appears in Canticum Canticorum Salomonis (Song of Songs of Solomon), no. 4
- a text in Hebrew (עברית) by Bible or other Sacred Texts , appears in שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים (Shir Hashirim), no. 4
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Maurice Duruflé (1902 - 1986), "Tota pulchra es, Maria" [ chorus ], from Quatre motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, no. 2, motet [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Bible or other Sacred Texts [an adaptation] ; composed by Gary Bachlund.
- Also set in English, a translation by Bible or other Sacred Texts , no title, appears in Song of Songs of Solomon / Canticle of Canticles (KJV), no. 4 ; composed by Howard Skempton.
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Bible or other Sacred Texts [an adaptation] ; composed by Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur.
- Also set in Latin, [adaptation] ; composed by Heinrich Isaac, John Plummer, Nikolaus Schapfl.
- Also set in Latin, [adaptation] ; composed by Anton Bruckner.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lau Kanen) , "Gij zijt volkomen mooi, Maria", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Yaoyao Yuan) , "You are utterly beautiful", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ivo Zandhuis
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-13
Line count: 7
Word count: 31
You are utterly beautiful, Mary And the original stain is not in you. Your garment white as snow, And your face just like the sun. You are the glory of Jerusalem, You are the joy of Israel, You are the honor of our people.
Note for line 2 ("original stain") provided by Laura Prichard: This phrase is often translated as “original sin.” Christians credit the Blessed Virgin Mary with giving birth to a son (Jesus) who would offer himself in sacrifice to allow future believers to be redeemed of the “original sin” of Eve (eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge). Eve in Latin is “Eva” and the most frequently said/sung prayer to Mary begins with “Ave” – these palindromes are sometimes used as literary/poetic allusions to “the stain/sin” of one being removed by the other (“Ave Maria”/Hail Mary). Eva in reverse spells 'Ave,' the greeting that the Angel Gabriel spoke in the Annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:28).
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2025 by Yaoyao Yuan, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in Latin by Not Applicable [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , appears in Canticum Canticorum Salomonis (Song of Songs of Solomon), no. 4
Based on:
- a text in Hebrew (עברית) by Bible or other Sacred Texts , appears in שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים (Shir Hashirim), no. 4
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-12
Line count: 7
Word count: 44