A Bassus partbook from a set originally of five volumes. The manuscript consists of two different books bound together; the first book consists of 36 pieces for 4 voices, the second of 12 pieces for 5 voices. Copied by a single scribe who identifies himself as 'Antonius' in several places, in Florence; there are some additions by a later scribe on ff. 35v-38.

The Medici crest and mottoes appear often; there are occasional specific references to Alessandro de' Medici (A.M.D.F. = Alessandro Medices Dux Florentiae). The original owner was apparently Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence between 1532 and 1537. Provenance unknown before the books' acquisition by the Biblioteca Palatina.

Original grey-green leather covers with ornamental decorations and voice designations stamped on front and back; one of the stamps was also used on the covers of ChiN M91 and FlorC 2495 (SlimGM)

(1) resembles Briquet #5963; (2) resembles Briquet #5926

black void mensural

If owned by Alessandro while Duke, between 1532-1537; Fenlon/Haar suggest the distinct break in Bassus before the last piece, with insertion of Medici 'palle', may indicate a link to the restoration of 1532 and therefore a copying date immediately preceding that.

5 staves per page

Modern foliation

Inked calligraphic initials, elaborate 'cadellae' decorating the openings of pieces. Edges of folios are painted gold and bear tooled designs; this feature is also found in FlorBN BR 229, FlorBN Magl. 121, and FlorBN Magl. 164-7 (Crawford)

paper

48 Italian secular pieces

(Arcadelt)-5, (C. Festa/Verdelot)-1, (C. Festa/Verdelot/Willaert)-1, (Verdelot)-18, anon-23

4 paper partbooks of an original 5 (D-iii + 80 + iii folios, T-iii + 80 + iii, B-iii + 79 + iii, Q-iii + 30 + iii), 165 x 228. Modern foliation. Blank folios: D-38'-50, 51'-52, 65-80'; T-1'-2, 38'-49', 64-79'; B-F-2, 38'-49', 50'-51, 64-79'; Q-15-30'. Original gray-green leather covers with ornamental decorations and voice designations stamped on front and back; one of the stamps was also used on the covers of ChiN M91 and FlorC 2495 (SlimGM). Copied by a single scribe. Inked calligraphic initials. Edges of folios are painted gold and bear tooled designs; this feature is also found in FlorBN BR 229, FlorBN Magl. 121, and FlorBN Magl. 164-7 (Crawford). One watermark resembles Briquet #5963 (the same mark or a similar one is also found in BolC Q21, FlorBN Magl. 111, 112, and 164-7); another resembles Briquet #5926 (also found in BrusC 27511, BrusC 27731, FlorBN Magl. 99-102, 125bis, and RomeV 35-40). The manuscript consists of two different books bound together; the first book consists of 36 pieces for 4 voices, the second of 12 pieces for 5 voices. The Medici crest and mottoes appear often; there are occasional specific references to Alessandro de' Medici (A.M.D.F. = Alessandro Medices Dux Florentiae).

1532-7. Copied in Florence; the original owner was apparently Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence between 1532 and 1537.

Vol 4

Composers: (Arcadelt)-8, (Arcadelt/F. Layolle)-1, (Corteccia)-2, (C. Festa)-4, (C. Festa/Verdelot)-2, (Santacroce)-1, (Verdelot)-19, anon-11

Physical: Copied by a single scribe, except for last three pieces in first section, copied by different hand. Inked calligraphic initials, decorated with human profiles. See HaarML for discussion of various mottoes and initials in this source, and their possible relevance to contemporary political conditions in Florence. HaarML questions suggestion that manuscript was copied for, or owned by Alessandro de' Medici.

Date: Ca. 1528-31 (HaarML).