A Discantus partbook from a set of three volumes. Music copied by two scribes, both employed by Edward Paston (see BrettEP for list of other books in the same hand and for discussion of related manuscripts from Paston's circle). Repertory consists mainly of three-voice sections extracted from larger works; see also LonRC 2036. All attributions in Bassus book. Many pieces have text incipits only. Roughly drawn barlines added to many pieces by later hand. Many pieces at the beginning of the book are repeated later, in different keys & with different clefs. Originated in the household of Edward Paston (1550-1630) of Norfolk, a country gentleman and collector of music. Owned in 19th century by Sacred Harmonic Society of London. Library of latter purchased for newly founded Royal College of Music in 1883.
| Archive | Royal College of Music, London, England (GB-Lcm) |
|---|---|
| Shelfmark | MS 2035 [Discantus] |
| Image Availability | DIAMM does not have images of this source. Please refer to the external links for image availability. |
| Surface | Paper |
| Numbering System | Foliation |
| Measurements | 127 x 210 mm |
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| Provenance |
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| Contents | Contains 63 compositions from 13 composers. |
General Description
Binding
Discantus has original buff limp vellum covers, inscribed 'Cantus/Trium Vocum'; other books have modern covers of dark blue pasteboard
Notation
black void mensural
Foliation
Original ink foliation in each book, 1-48
Decoration
No initials or decoration
Index
Original index on front flyleaves of Bassus book; pieces grouped alphabetically by first letter of text, with subgrouping under each letter by order of appearance
Surface
paper
Census Catalogue of Music Description
This information is reproduced here by kind permission of the publishers. It is COPYRIGHT and copying/reproduction of this content without permission may result in legal action.
9 Mass Ordinary sections, 1 Magnificat section, 1 Lamentation, 41 motet sections = 52 + 8 duplicates = 60
Byrd-4, Fayrfax-2, R. Johnson I-2, W. Mundy [Mr: Mundy]-8, Parsley-2, R. Parsons I [Mr: Persons]-1, Shepherd-3, Tallis-8, Tallis/Taverner-1 [copied twice, with conflicting attributions], Taverner-2, Taverner/(Tallis)-1, Victoria-1, R. White [Mr: Whight]-3, Wood-4, anon-1
3 paper partbooks (D-iv + 48 + ii folios, A-i + ii + 48 + iii + i, B-i + v + 48 + i), 127 x 210. Original ink foliation in each book, 1-48. Discantus has original covers of buff parchment, inscribed "Cantus/Trium Vocum"; other books have modern covers of dark blue pasteboard. Original index on front flyleaves of B book; pieces grouped alphabetically by first letter of text, with subgrouping under each letter by order of appearance. Music copied by two scribes, both employed by Edward Paston (see BrettEP for list of other books in the same hand and for discussion of related manuscripts from Paston's circle). No initials or decoration. Repertory consists mainly of three-voice sections extracted from larger works; see also LonRC 2036. All attributions in B book. Many pieces have text incipits only. Roughly drawn barlines added to many pieces by later hand.
Early 17th century. Of English provenance; originated in the household of Edward Paston (1550-1630) of Norfolk, a country gentleman and collector of music. Owned in 19th century by Sacred Harmonic Society of London. Library of latter purchased for newly founded Royal College of Music in 1883.
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Sets
MS 2035
Partbooks · 3 sources
Paston Manuscripts
Linked by Origin or Contents · 97 sources
‡ denotes primary source study
Bray, Roger W. 1969. The Interpretation of Musica Ficta in English Music, C. 1490-C. 1580 [dissertation]. Oxford University, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: I, 142, 171ff; II, 62ff. Notes: transcription (partial); mention of MS; discussion.
Warren, Edwin B. 1969. Life and Works of Robert Fayrfax. Musicological Studies and Documents, vol. 22. American Institute of Musicology. Pages: 54, 60, 123. Notes: mention of MS; contents list (partial); concordances (partial).
Kirsch, Winfried. 1966. Die Quellen der mehrstimmigen Magnificat- und Te Deum-Vertonungen bis zur Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts. Tutzing. Pages: 145. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); incipits (partial).
Brett, Philip. 1964-68. Edward Paston (1550-1630): A Norfolk Gentleman and His Musical Collection. Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 4: 51-69. Pages: 69. Notes: mention of MS.
Lamont, Herbert Harry. 1963. John Shepherd: His Life and Music. University of Southern California, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: I, 115-6, 223-6. Notes: physical description (partial); contents list (partial); concordances (partial).
Brett, Philip, and Thurston Dart. 1960. Songs by William Byrd in Manuscripts at Harvard. Harvard Library Bulletin, 14: 343-65. Pages: 346-7, 365. Notes: mention of MS.
Westrup, Jack A (editor). 1954-. New Oxford History of Music. London, New York, and Toronto. Pages: IV, 479-80. Notes: transcription (partial).
Squire, W Barclay. 1930c. Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal College of Music. Notes: physical description.
Fellowes, Edmund H (editor). 1923-48. Tudor Church Music. London, Oxford et al. Pages: I, lx-lxiii; III, xvii-xx, 60, 133; V, xx, xxii, xxvii; VI, xxvii-xxix; X, 235. Notes: physical description (partial); contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).
Husk, W H. 1872. Catalogue of the Library of The Sacred Harmonic Society. London. Pages: 203-4. Notes: physical description (partial); contents list.
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Edward Tambling
Tuesday, 10 October, 2023
'Unidentified' Victoria Crucifixus identified as from Dum complerentur mass
Census-Catalogue of Manuscript Sources of Polyphonic Music 1400-1550
Monday, 23 January, 2017
NB: Migrated from old site. Credit for notes may not be completely accurate. Census Catalogue of Music Description