A Bassus partbook from a set of five volumes; 4 are part of M91, the Altus is in England (GB-SC Recusant Library, R0279, RFF3). Copied by the same scribe as BolC Q21 (Mitchell Brauner); this copyist was probably Gianpiero Masacone, who wrote FlorD 4, 11, 27, and 28 (Rifkin).

The sixty compositions are copied in three series: 14 four-voiced motets; 16 five- and six-voiced motets; and 30 four-, five- and six-voiced madrigals.

Copied in Florence; presented to Henry VIII of England, apparently as a gift from the city of Florence. In the early 17th century, the books were in the possession of the Catholic recusant Francis Tregian the Younger (1574-1619), who copied a madrigal from them into LonBLE 3665, and a motet into NYorkP 4302. Nothing is known of the subsequent history of the books until the 19th century.

At some point, the Altus became separated from the rest of the books; it had already passed into other hands by the time the remaining books of the set were acquired, late in the 19th century, by the singer and organist William Hayman Cummings (1831-1915). Two years after Cummings' death, the books were purchased at auction by the book dealer Bernard Quaritch. Quaritch listed the books for sale in 1919, 1931, and again in 1935, at which time they were purchased by the Newberry Library. (On the rediscovered Altus book, see SlimRT and the entry for SuttonO 4.)

129 leaves

Original covers of morocco leather (D-dark red, T-brown, B-black, Q-dark brown) with ornamental decorations and voice designations stamped in gilt on front and back; one of the stamps was also used on the covers of FlorC 2495 and FlorBN Magl. 122-5 (SlimGM); another was used on the covers of BolC Q21.

A pair of crossed arrows within a circle below a six-pointed star, close to Briquet #6305, dating c. 1524-5

black void mensural

4 staves per page for motets, 3 staves per page for madrigals

Other numberings: Original numbering of pieces, I-XIV for 4-voice motets, I-XVI for 5- and 6-voice motets, I-XXX for madrigals in 4, 5, and 6vv

Modern pencil foliation

Large illuminated initials with floral and gilt border work mark the first piece in each of the three series, in each book; secondary initials are also illuminated. These and other decorations are the work of Giovanni Boccardi (1460-1529) (SlimGM). Edges of leaves decorated with gilded and gauffered (embossed) designs (Fenlon/Haar)

30 motets, 30 Italian secular pieces = 60

(Arcadelt/Verdelot)-1, (Conseil)-1, (A. Ferrabosco I/Verdelot)-1, (Jaquet of Mantua/Lafage/Sermisy)-1, (Jhan of Ferrara)-1, (Josquin/Verdelot)-1, (Lhéritier)-3, (Richafort/Verdelot)-1, (Sermisy)-2, (Silva)-1, (Verdelot)-30 + 13?, (Willaert)-3, anon-1

4 paper partbooks of an original 5 (D-130 folios, T-126, B-129, Q-69), ca. 140 x 225. (SuttonO 4 is the altus book of this set). Modern pencil foliation; original numbering of pieces, I-XIV for a first series of motets, I-XVI for a second, I-XXX for the Italian secular pieces. Original covers of morocco leather (D-dark red, T-brown, B-black, Q-dark brown) with ornamental decorations and voice designations stamped in gilt on front and back; one of the stamps was also used on the covers of FlorC 2495 and FlorBN Magl. 122-5 (SlimGM); another was used on the covers of BolC Q21. Copied by the same scribe as BolC Q21 (Mitchell Brauner); this copyist was probably Gianpiero Masacone, who wrote FlorD 4, 11, 27, and 28 (Rifkin). Large illuminated initials with floral and gilt border work mark the first piece in each of the three series, in each book; secondary initials are also illuminated. These and other decorations are the work of Giovanni Boccardi (1460-1529) (SlimGM).

1527-9. Copied in Florence; presented to Henry VIII of England, apparently as a gift from the city of Florence. In the early 17th century, the books were in the possession of the Catholic recusant Francis Tregian the Younger (1574-1619), who copied a madrigal from them into LonBLE 3665, and a motet into NYorkP 4302. Nothing is known of the subsequent history of the books until the 19th century. At some point, the altus became separated from the rest of the books; it had already passed into other hands by the time the remaining books of the set were acquired, late in the 19th century, by the singer and organist William Hayman Cummings (1831-1915). Two years after Cummings' death, the books were purchased at auction by the book dealer Bernard Quaritch. Quaritch offered the books for sale in 1919, 1931, and again in 1935, at which time they were purchased by the Newberry Library. (For information about the history of the recently rediscovered altus book, see SlimRT and the entry for SuttonO 4).

Vol. 4

Composers: Change "(Willaert)-3" to "(Willaert)-2"; add "(Obrecht/Willaert)-1."