I-Rc MS 2856 (Casanatense chansonnier)

Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome, Italy

manuscript of polyphony: c. 1479-81 (Wolff); up to 1490 (Rifkin)

Archive Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome, Italy (I-Rc)
Shelfmark MS 2856 (Casanatense chansonnier)
Image Availability DIAMM does not have images of this source. Please refer to the external links for image availability.
Surface Mixed Paper and Parchment
Numbering System Foliation
Measurements 270 x 202 mm
Other Identifiers
  • RISM: I-Rc 2856
  • CCM: RomeC 2856
  • olim (Former shelfmark): O.V. 208
Notations
  • black void mensural
Copyists
Relationships
External Links
Provenance
  • Ferrara, Italy
Contents Contains 150 compositions, 137 from 29 composers, 13 are anonymous.
General Description

Earliest layer probably copied by Alessandro Signorello, employed by Este court at Ferrara (WolC); new ff. 131'-145 and ff. 145'-146, respectively, copied by two additional scribes. More recently Rifkin (Rif2003) argued that the scribe was a northerner, probably Johannes Martini. Fallows2009 notes that the mannered script, errors in text incipits and ascriptions argue for a non-musical text scribe.

Two or three pieces by same composer often grouped together. All pieces either textless or have text incipits or titles only, frequently corrupt.

Copied in Ferrara; prepared as gift for Isabella d'Esté, honoring her betrothal (1480) or marriage (1490) to Gian Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. Possibly the 'libro da canto figurato che scripse e notò Don Alessandro Signorello a la pifaresca' which Èrcole I d'Esté, Duke of Ferrara, commissioned for illumination by workshop of Andrea de le Viese in 1485 (WolC) - but see Rif2003 for a counter-argument.

Later owned by Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657-1743), director of Cappella Giulia, Vatican City; willed to Collegio Germanico in Rome, operated by Fathers of the Companions of Jesus. Latter order suppressed in 1773; musical library dispersed. Next known owner of manuscript was the musicologist Giuseppe Baini (1775-1844); bequeathed by Baini to Biblioteca Casanatense.

DIAMM, 2017
Physical Description

At least 9 original folios now missing at various places, but not all contained music.

DIAMM, 2017
Binding

Rebound in modern (19th-century) covers of cream-colored vellum over boards.

DIAMM, 2017
Notation

black void mensural

DIAMM, 2017
Ruling

Staff height 15

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

Other numberings: Originally two sections—I (new ff. 3-131): mostly 3-voice works, with original numbering of pieces, 1-101, on upper right rectos; II (new ff. 147'-164): 4-voice works, with original numbering of pieces, 102-111. Third section (new ff. 131'-146) interpolated after first two sections completed; sporadic and incomplete numbering of pieces in this section, beginning with '102.'

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

Modern stamped foliation, 1-164, on lower right rectos, includes paper flyleaf preceding first parchment folio.

DIAMM, 2017
Decoration

Illuminated borders on f. 3' feature intertwined vine and floral motifs, filigree work, and circular discs, in white and gold on deep blue ground decorated with light green, crimson, gold, silver, and black; combined coats of arms of Este and Gonzaga families incorporated into bottom border. Plain block style initials in red, blue, and gold. Bassus parts usually extend across recto and verso of each opening; decorative pointers directing performers from final note on verso to initial note on facing recto take form of gargoyles, flowers, birds, pointing hands, etc.

DIAMM, 2017
Index

Original index on ff. 2-2' groups pieces alphabetically by first letter of text or title, with subgrouping under each letter by order of appearance. Index now incomplete (A-M pieces only) due to lost folio following new f. 2.

DIAMM, 2017
Surface

ii paper + i paper + 163 parchment + ii paper

DIAMM, 2017
RISM Description

RISM

XVe s. 164 ff. Parchemin, 270 x 200 mm. Numérotation ancienne des pièces et foliotation moderne: 1-164. Les ff. lr-v, 3, 146v, 147 sont blancs. Notation mesurée blanche. 7 portées par p. Au f. 2r-v, table alphabétique incomplète du ms. (jusqu'à M).

Ms. entré à la Casanatense en 1844, don de Giuseppe Baini comme l'indique à l'intérieur de la couverture la note: «Ex dono Baini.» Au XVIIIe s., le ms. appartenait au maître de chapelle de St. Pierre de Rome Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni qui, dans une étude en ms. à la Vaticana, signale qu'avant lui, le ms. était dans la «libreria del Duca di Ferrara.» (Ms. Cappella Giulia 1-2 (1-2). Le blason qui figure au bas du f. 3v et qui reproduit les armoiries associées des Este et des Gonzague, indique que le ms. était destiné à Isabella d'Esté devenue marquise de Gonzague en 1490. Il n'a donc pu être entrepris avant les fiançailles d'Isabella en 1480 et peut-être lui fut-il offert en cadeau de noces. En tout cas, il reflète le répertoire de la cour de Ferrare avec 22 pièces de Johannes Martini, l'un des musiciens favoris d'Ercole d'Esté au service duquel il resta de 1474 à sa mort en 1497 (ou 98). Le ms. est constitué de deux parties écrites de la même main: f. 3v à 131 (nos 1 à 101) chansons à 3vx.- f. 147v à 164 (nos 114 à 123) chansons à 4vx. Entre les deux, s'insère une 3e section écrite postérieure-ment d'une main différente: f. 131v à 146 (nos 102 à 113 non chiffrés dans la numérotation ancienne: le ms. primitif comptait 111 pièces seul')

This information is reproduced here by kind permission of the publishers. It is COPYRIGHT and copying/reproduction of any of this content without permission may result in legal action.

Répertoire International des Sources Musicales
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.

2 motets, 2 motet-chansons, 101 French secular pieces (3 without text), 9 Italian secular pieces (1 without text), 5 Dutch secular pieces, 1 macaronic secular piece, 3 textless pieces = 123

A. Agricola-17, A. Agricola/(Compère)-1, A. Agricola/(Ghiselin)-1, Barbireau-2, Basin-1, Basin/(Morton)-1, Basiron [Phelippon]-1, Bosfrin-1, Brumel-1, Busnois-11, (Busnois/Caron)-1, Caron-5, Caron/(Busnois)-1, Caron/(Morton)-1, Compère-5, Compère/(A. Agricola)-1, (Compère/Pietrequin)-1, Dusart/(Caron)-1, Ghiselin-3, Hayne van Ghizeghem-7, Hayne van Ghizeghem/(Busnois)-2, Japart-1, Japart/(Busnois/La Rue)-1, Japart/(Congiet)-1, Josquin-4, Josquin/(A. Agricola)-1, Joye-1, Lannoy/(Josquin)-Martini-1, Malcort/(Martini/Morton/Ockeghem)-1, Martini-23, Molinet-1, Morton-2, Obrecht-2, Ockeghem-3, Ockeghem/(Busnois)-1, Ockeghem/(Hayne van Ghizeghem)-1, Paulus de Broda-1, Sonspison-1, Touront-1, anon-11

ii paper + i paper + 163 parchment + ii paper folios, 270 x 202. At least 9 original folios now missing at various places, but not all contained music. Modern stamped foliation, 1-164, on lower right rectos, includes paper flyleaf preceding first parchment folio. Originally two sections—I (new ff. 3-131): mostly 3-voice works, with original numbering of pieces, 1-101, on upper right rectos; II (new ff. 147'-164): 4-voice works, with original numbering of pieces, 102-111. Third section (new ff. 131'-146) interpolated after first two sections completed; sporadic and incomplete numbering of pieces in this section, beginning with "102."

Rebound in modern (19th-century) covers of cream-colored vellum over boards. Original index on ff. 2-2' groups pieces alphabetically by first letter of text or title, with subgrouping under each letter by order of appearance. Index now incomplete (A-M pieces only) due to lost folio following new f. 2.

Earliest layer probably copied by Alessandro Signorello, employed by Este court at Ferrara (WolC); new ff. 131'-145 and ff. 145'-146, respectively, copied by two additional scribes. Staff height 15.

Illuminated borders on f. 3' feature intertwined vine and floral motifs, filigree work, and circular discs, in white and gold on deep blue ground decorated with light green, crimson, gold, silver, and black; combined coats of arms of Este and Gonzaga families incorporated into bottom border. Plain block style initials in red, blue, and gold. Bassus parts usually extend across recto and verso of each opening; decorative pointers directing performers from final note on verso to initial note on facing recto take form of gargoyles, flowers, birds, pointing hands, etc.

Two or three pieces by same composer often grouped together. All pieces either textless or have text incipits or titles only, frequently corrupt.

Ca. 1485-90 (WolC). Copied in Ferrara; prepared as gift for Isabella d'Esté, honoring her betrothal (1480) and marriage (1490) to Gian Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. Possibly the "libro da canto figurato che scripse e notò Don Alessandro Signorello a la pifaresca" which Èrcole I d'Esté, Duke of Ferrara, commissioned for illumination by workshop of Andrea de 1e Viese in 1485 (WolC). Later owned by Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657-1743), director of Cappella Giulia, Vatican City; willed to Collegio Germanico in Rome, operated by Fathers of the Companions of Jesus. Latter order suppressed in 1773; musical library dispersed. Next known owner of manuscript was the musicologist Giuseppe Baini (1775-1844); bequeathed by Baini to Biblioteca Casanatense.

Vol 4

Date: Ca. 1479-81 (LockRF).

Census-Catalogue of Manuscript Sources of Polyphonic Music 1400-1550
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‡ denotes primary source study

Fallows, David. 2009. Josquin. Epitome Musical. 529. Turnhout: Brepols. 978-2-503-56674-0. Pages: 67-71. Notes: Discussion; contents (partial).

Rifkin, Joshua. 2003. Munich, Milan, and a Marian motet: Dating Josquin's 'Ave Maria ... virgo serena'. Journal of the American Musicological Society, 56: 239-350. Notes: Date; copyist; discussion.

Lockwood, Lewis Henry (editor). 2002. A Ferrarese Chansonnier : Roma, Biblioteca Casanatense 2856 : 'Canzoniere di Isabella d'Este'. xxxii+331. Lucca: Libreria Musicale Italiana [New York, NY: OMI, Old Manuscripts & Incunabula].

Burkholder, J Peter. 1985. Johannes Martini and the Imitation Mass of the Late Fifteenth Century. Journal of the American Musicological Society, 38: 470-523. Pages: 482,512-6. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Strohm, Reinhard. 1985. Music in Late Medieval Bruges.  Oxford. Pages: 137,252-3. Notes: contents list (partial); transcription (partial).

Weiss, Susan Forscher. 1985. The Manuscript Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale, Codex Q 18 (olim 143): A Bolognese Instrumental Collection of the Early Cinquecento. University of Maryland, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: 96ff, 122-5,317ff, passim. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Lockwood, Lewis Henry. 1984. Music in Renaissance Ferrara 1400-1505: The Creation of a Musical Center in the Fifteenth Century.  Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pages: 216-7,224-6,269-77,280, Fig. 11. Notes: physical description; contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); facsimile (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Perkins, Leeman L. 1984. The L'Homme Arme Masses of Busnoys and Okeghem: A Comparison. The Journal of Musicology, 3: 363-96. Pages: 372-4. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Brown, Howard Mayer (editor). 1983. A Florentine Chansonnier from the Time of Lorenzo the Magnificent: Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale MS Banco Rari 229. Monuments of Renaissance Music, vol. VII.  Chicago and London. Pages: 46-7,193,208ff, passim. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Warburton, Thomas. 1983. Sicher's 'Johannes Zela zons plus': A Problem in Identity. Acta Musicologica, 55: 74-89. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Bernstein, Lawrence F. 1982. Notes on the Origin of the Parisian Chanson. The Journal of Musicology, 1: 275-326. Pages: 296-7, 303, 316. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Atlas, Allan W (editor). 1981. Robert Morton: The Collected Works. Masters and Monuments of the Renaissance, vol. 2.  New York. Pages: xxiii, xxvi-xxviii, xxxi, xxxiii-xxxvi, 62-4, 66-70, 85-8, 92-4. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Atlas, Allan W. 1981. Conflicting Attributions in Italian Sources of the Franco-Netherlandish Chanson, c. 1465-c. 1505: A Progress Report on a New Hypothesis. Music in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Patronage, Sources and Texts,  Cambridge. Pages: 259-62, 264, 266-7, 269, 271, 276, 278-83. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Fenlon, Iain. 1980. Music and patronage in the sixteenth-century Mantua I.  Cambridge. Pages: 21. Notes: physical description; mention of MS; discussion.

Litterick, Louise. 1980. Performing Franco-Netherlandish secular music of the late 15th century. Early Music, 8: 474-85. Notes: facsimile (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Hamm, Charles E, and Herbert Kellman (editors). 1979-1988. Census-Catalogue of Manuscript Sources of Polyphonic Music 1400-1550. Renaissance Manuscript Studies, vol. 1-5. 5 vols. Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology, Hänssler Verlag. Pages: III, 112-114.

Perkins, Leeman L, and Howard Garey (editors). 1979. The Mellon Chansonnier.  New Haven and London. Pages: I, 10, 15-6; II, 175-6,190ff, passim. Notes: physical description; contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Atlas, Allan W. 1978. La provenienza del manoscritto Berlin 78.C.28 Firenze o Napoli? Revista Italiana di Musicologia, 13, no. 1: 10ff. Pages: 25.

Fallows, David. 1978. Robert Morton's Songs: A Study in Styles in the Mid-Fifteenth Century. University of California at Berkeley, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Gore, Glenn Leon. 1978. The Works of Philippe Basiron (Philippon?): Transcription and Commentary. West Virginia University, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: 1,25-6,108-11,115-6; II.xv-xviii II.xv-xviii. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Staehelin, Martin. 1977. Die Messen Heinrich Isaacs. Publikationen der Schweizerischen Musikforschenden Gesellschaft Serie II, vol. 28/I-III.  Bern and Stuttgart. Pages: II, 41; III, 70-1, 193. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Litterick, Louise. 1976. The Manuscript Royal 20. A. XVI of the British Library. New York University, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: 106, 150,155-67, 190ff. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Thompson, James (editor). 1976. Les Oeuvres Completes de Philippe (?) Caron. Transcription et Notes Critiques de James Thomson.  Brooklyn: Institute of Mediaeval Music. Pages: II. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).

Atlas, Allan W. 1975-6. The Cappella Giulia Chansonnier (Rome, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, C. G.XIII.27). Musicological Studies, vol. 27.  Brooklyn. Pages: I, 58ff, 239-40, passim. Notes: physical description (partial); contents list (partial); concordances (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Wolff, Arthur S. 1970. The Chansonnier Biblioteca Casanatense 2856, Its History, Purpose and Music. North Texas State University, Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: I-II. Notes: physical description; contents list; concordances; incipits; texts; facsimile (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Hudson, Barton (editor). 1969-72. Antoine Brumel: Collected Works. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 5.  Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: I, xxiii; VI, xxv, xxvii. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).

Jeppesen, Knud. 1968-70. La Frottola. Acta Jutlandica, vol. XL/2, XLI/1, & XLII/1. 3 vols. Copenhagen. Pages: II, 91f et 194f.

Brawley, John Gray, Jr. 1968. The Magnificats, Hymns, Motets, and Secular Compositions of Johannes Martini. Yale University, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: I, 73, 77, 95, 98 II, 15ff, passim. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Keahey, Thomas Herman. 1968. The Masses of Johannes Prions: A Critical Edition. University of Texas at Austin, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: 99-105. Notes: contents list (partial); transcription (partial); texts (partial); mention of MS; discussion.

Llorens Cisteró, José Maria. 1965. El Còdice Casanatense 2.856 identificado como el Cancionero de Isabella d'Esté (Ferrara), esposa de Francesco Gonzaga (Mantua). Anuário Musical, 20: 161-78. Pages: 161-78. Notes: physical description; contents list; facsimile (partial).

Lerner, Edward R (editor). 1961-70. Alexandrí Agricola: Opera Omnia. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 22.  Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: IV, xv-xx; V, viii-ff, 27-8, 56, 59, 98. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).

Gottwald, Clytus (editor). 1961-68. Johannes Ghiselin- Verbonnet: Opera Omnia. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 23.  Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: II, x; IV, 15-6, 22-5, 31-2. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).

Picker, Martin. 1960. The Chanson Albums of Marguerite of Austria: Manuscripts 228 and 11239 of the Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, Bruxelles. University of California at Berkeley, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: I, 368. Notes: physical description; contents list (partial); concordances (partial).

Finscher, Ludwig (editor). 1958-. Loyset Compere: Opera Omnia. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 15.  Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: V, [x]. Notes: facsimile (partial).

Meier, Bernhard (editor). 1954-7. Jacobi Barbireau: Opera Omnia. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 7.  Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: II, ii, [vii], 7-9. Notes: contents list (partial); transcription (partial); facsimile (partial).

Brooks, Catherine V. 1951. Antoine Busnois as a Composer of Chansons. New York University, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: I, 152ff, passim; II, 110-2, 234-8, 255-7. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); incipits (partial); transcription (partial).

Jeppesen, Knud (editor). 1927. New York, 1965 (reprint, with new remarks by the editor). Der Kopenhagener Chansonnier: Das Manuskript Thott 291s der Königlichen Bibliothek Kopenhagen. Copenhagen and Leipzig.  Copenhagen and Leipzig. Pages: xx, xxxv, lxvi-lxvii, lxxiii, lxxxi-lxxxii, xc, c. Notes: physical description; contents list (partial); concordances (partial).

Smijers, Albert (editor). 1925-68. Werken van Josquin des Prez: Wereldlijke Werken.  Amsterdam. Pages: IV, vii-ff, 16-7; V, xi-xii. Notes: contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).

Wolf, Johannes (editor). 1908-21. Reprint: Farnborough, England, 1968. Werken van Jacob Obrecht.  Leipzig and Amsterdam,. Pages: XV/XVI, vii-ff, 34-6, 57-8, 83-4, 99-100; XXI, 128; XXVI, 94-5. Notes: physical description; contents list (partial); concordances (partial); transcriptions (partial).

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Michael Silies

Friday, 26 November, 2021

shelfmark corrected (2856 not 2865)!

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

Répertoire Internationale des Sources Musicales

Monday, 23 January, 2017

NB: Migrated from old site. Credit for notes may not be completely accurate. RISM Description