I-Fl MS Mediceo Palatino 87 (Codex Squarcialupi)

Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence, Italy

manuscript of polyphony: 14th century

Archive Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence, Italy (I-Fl)
Shelfmark MS Mediceo Palatino 87 (Codex Squarcialupi)
Image Availability The images on this record are linked using IIIF.
Surface Parchment
Numbering System Foliation
Measurements 405 x 285 mm
Other Identifiers
  • RISM: I-Fl 87
  • RISM: Fl, Sq
Notations
  • black full mensural
Copyists
Relationships
External Links
Provenance
  • Italy
Contents Contains 348 compositions, 347 from 14 composers, 1 is anonymous.
General Description

This 15th century codex, named after its former owner Antonio Squarcialupi (1416-1480), is the largest and most luxurious, but also the latest of the great collections of Italian Trecento music. Contains in mostly chronological order by composers a collection exclusively of secular works. 216 parchment sheets + 2 parchment original flyleaves + 3 modern front flyleaves and 2 modern end flyleaves (19th c.).

Written by a single scribe (whose hand also appears in Florence MS Ashb. 999). The first of the original flyleaves (recto) contains the owner’s inscription: “Questo libro è di Bartolomeo di antonio magistro schuarcialupi horghanisto in sancta maria del fiore”. The verso of the page names later owners: R. Bonamici (Squarcialupi’s grandson) and Giuliano de Medici, in whose possession the manuscript was held by no later than 1512/13. The second original flyleaf eulogises Antonio Squarcialupi.

Opinions diverge as to the date and composition of this manuscript, written probably in Florence. While N. Pirrotta believes a date after 1440, which does not exclude the possibility that Squarcialupi was perhaps the owner but less likely the writer of the manuscript. Other researchers consider an earlier data probable. According to v. Fischer the manuscript was probably written in Santa Maria degli Angeli from 1415 to 1419. B. Becherini names Paul de Florentia and R. Taucci Andrea da Firenze († 1415) as compilers, or even as the scribes. As to the origin of the manuscript, a faint indication of the arms of the Florentine family Leoni may be discerned at f. 1r below 55v.

DIAMM, 2021
Binding

15th-16th century, with brown leather covered wooden cover, blind tooling, restored in the 19th century with leather spine and gold inscription “Collezione di Canzoni italiani con musica”.

DIAMM, 2021
Notation

Italian 14th century black mensural notation, red coloration only on f. 176v/177r.

DIAMM, 2017
Ruling

11 red six-line systems

DIAMM, 2021
Foliation

Original foliation from the third leaf of f. I-CCXVI.

DIAMM, 2017
Decoration

Rich coloured miniatures and composers’ portraits

DIAMM, 2021
Surface

parchment

DIAMM, 2017
RISM Description

RISM B/IV 4: 15. Jh.; 216 Blätter Pergament + 2 originale Vorsatzblätter Pergament + 3 moderne Vorsatz- und 2 moderne Nachstoßblätter Papier (19. Jh.), 405 x 285 mm. Originale Foliierung ab drittem Blatt von f. I-CCXVI. Je Seite 11 rote Sechsliniensysteme mit schwarzer (italienischen) Mensuralnotation des 14./15. Jh.; rote Noten nur auf f. 176v/177r. - Einband: 15./16. Jh.; mit braunem Leder überzogene Holzdeckel, Blindpressung; im 19. Jh. restauriert und mit Lederrücken und Goldaufschrift "Collezione di Canzoni italiani con musica" versehen.

Der nach seinem einstigen Besitzer Antonio Squarcialupi (1416-1480) benannte Codex ist die prächtigste und umfangreichste, zugleich aber auch die jüngste der großen Sammlungen italienischer Trecentomusik. Reiche farbige Miniaturen und Komponisten-Porträts schmücken die Seiten der von einer einzigen Hand geschriebenen Handschrift. Das erste alte Vorsatzblatt (recto) enthält den Besitzervermerk "Questo libro è di Magistro antonio di bartolomeo schuarcialupi horghanisto in sancta maria del fiore". Es folgen auf der verso-Seite Namen weiterer Besitzer: R. Bonamici (Enkel Squarcialupis) und Giuliano de' Medici, in dessen Besitz sich die Handschrift seit spätestens 1512/13 befand. Das zweite alte Vorsatzblatt enthält als Grabsprüche entworfene Lobgedichte auf Antonio Squarcialupi. - Über die Entstehung und Datierung der sicherlich in Florenz geschriebenen Handschrift gehen die Meinungen auseinander. Während N. Pirrotta, der die Handschrift nicht vor 1440 datiert, die Möglichkeit nicht ausschließt, daß Squarcialupi selbst der Sammler (kaum aber der Schreiber) der Handschrift gewesen sein könnte, halten andere Forscher eine frühere Datierung für wahrscheinlich, womit auch die These von einem direkten Zusammenhang zwischen der Entstehung der Handschrift und A. Squarcialupi dahinfällt. Nach v. Fischer ist die Handschrift vermutlich zwischen 1415 und 1419 in Santa Maria degli Angeli geschrieben worden. B. Becherini möchte Paulus de Florentia und R. Taucci Andrea da Firenze († 1415) als Kompilatoren oder sogar als Schreiber annehmen. Einen bisher nicht sicher zu deutenden Hinweis auf die Herkunft der Handschrift vermag vielleicht das auf f. 1r und 55v stehende Wappen der Florentiner Familie Leoni zu geben.

Inhalt: In meist chronologischer Reihenfolge nach Komponisten angelegte Sammlung ausschließlich weltlicher Werke: f. l-6v Johannes de Florentia; f. 7r leer; f. 7v-21v Jacobus de Bononia; f. 22r-25r leer; f. 25v-31v Gherardellus de Florentia; f. 32r-35r leer; f. 35v-38v Vincentius de Arimino; f. 39r-45r leer; f. 45v-54v Laurentius de Florentia; f. 55r-71r leer, doch sollten ab f. 55v die Werke von Paulus de Florentia Platz finden; f. 71-79r Donatus de Florentia; f. 79v-81r leer; f. 81v-96v Nicolaus de Perugia; f. 97r-101r leer; f. 101v-120v Bartolinus de Padua; f. 121r leer; f. 121v-171r Franciscus de Florentia (Landini); f. 171v-173r leer; f. 173v-174r Egidius et Guilielmus de Francia; f. 174v-175r leer; f. 175v-177v Zacharias; f. 178r-183r leer; 183v-194v Andreas de Florentia; f. 195r-216v leer, doch sollten ab f. 195v die Werke von Jovannes horghanista de Florentia (†1426) Platz finden.

[Translation] 15th century. 216 parchment sheets + 2 parchment original flyleaves + 3 modern front flyleaves and 2 modern end flyleaves (19th c.), 405 x 285 mm. Original foliation from the third leaf of f. I-CCXVI. 11 red six-line systems with black mensural notation of the 14th-15th century; red coloration only on f. 176v/177r. - Binding: 15th-16th century, with brown leather covered wooden cover, blind tooling, restored in the 19th century with leather spine and gold inscription "Collezione di Canzoni italiani con musica".

This codex, named after its former owner Antonio Squarcialupi (1416-1480), is the largest and most luxurious, but also the latest of the great collections of Italian Trecento music. Rich colored miniatures and composers' portraits adorn the pages of a single hand-written manuscript. The first of the original flyleaves (recto) contains the owner's inscription: "Questo libro è di Bartolomeo di antonio magistro schuarcialupi horghanisto in sancta maria del fiore". The verso of the page names later owners: R. Bonamici (Squarcialupi's grandson) and Giuliano de Medici, in whose possession the manuscript was held by no later than 1512/13. The second original flyleaf eulogises Antonio Squarcialupi. Opinions diverge as to the date and composition of this manuscript, written probably in Florence. While N. Pirrotta believes a date after 1440, which does not exclude the possibility that Squarcialupi was perhaps the owner but less likely the writer of the manuscript. Other researchers consider an earlier data probably, hence the thesis of a direct relationship between the emergence of the manuscript and A. Squarcialupi. According to v. Fischer the manuscript was probably written in Santa Maria degli Angeli from 1415 to 1419. B. Becherini names Paul de Florentia and R. Taucci Andrea da Firenze († 1415) as compilers, or even as the scribes. As to the origin of the manuscript, a faint indication of the arms of the Florentine family Leoni may be discerned at f. 1r below 55v.

Content: In mostly chronological order by composers, a collection exclusively of secular works: f. l-6v Johannes de Florentia; f. 7r empty; f. 7v-21v Jacobus de Bononia, f. 22r-25r blank; f. 25v-31v Gherardellus de Florentia, f. 32r-35r empty; f. 35v-38v Vincentius de Arimino f. 39r-45r blank; f. 45v-54v Laurentius de Florentia, f. 55r-71r blank, but the works of Paulus de Florentia should be find their place from f. 55v, f. 71-79r Donatus de Florentia, f. 79v-81r blank; f. 81v-96v Nicolaus de Perugia; f. 97r-101r blank; f. 101v-120v Bartolinus de Padua; f. 121r blank; f. 121v-171r Franciscus de Florentia (Landini), f. 171v-173r blank; f. 173v-174r Egidius de Francia et Guilielmus f. 174v-175r blank; f. 175v-177v Zacharias, f. 178r 183r-empty; 183v-194v Andreas de Florentia, f. 195r-216v blank, but the works of Jovannes horghanista de Florentia († 1426) should be placed from f. 195v.

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
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denotes primary source study

Di Bacco, Giuliano, and John Nadas. 1998. The Papal Chapels and Italian Sources of Polyphony during the Great Schism. Papal Music and Musicians in Late Medieval and Renaissance Rome, edited by Giuliano Di Bacco and John Nadas, 44-92. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Gallo, Franco Alberto (editor). 1992. Il Codice Squarcialupi: MS Mediceo Palatino 87, Biblioteca Laurenziana di Firenze.  Florence: Libreria Musicale Italiana. Notes: facsimile: includes introductory essays by John Nadas, Kurt von Fischer, Luciano Bellosi, Nino Pirrotta, Giuseppe Tavani, Giulio Cattin, Agostino Ziino.

Pirrotta, Nino. 1992. Le musiche. Il Codice Squarcialupi, edited by Nino Pirrotta, 193–221.

Ziino, Agostino. 1992. La notazione musicale. Il Codice Squarcialupi, edited by Agostino Ziino, 253–77.

Fischer, Kurt von. 1969. Paolo da Firenze und der Squarcialupi-Kodex (I-Fl 87). Quadrivium, 9: 5-24.

Plamenac, Dragan. 1966. review of Der Squarcialupi-Codex Pal. 87 der Biblioteca Laurenziana zu Florenz. The Musical Quarterly, 52: 539ff.

Schrade, Leo. 1958. Übertragungen der Werke Landinis. Notes: (Übertragungen von Nr. 167-312, zum Teil nach anderen Handschriften). - Für alle weiteren bis 1955 erschienenen Faksimiles und Übertragungen vergleiche FischerStd, 18-73 (Kolonne außen rechts).

Fischer, Kurt von. 1956. Zu Johannes Wolfs Übertragung des Squarcialupi-Codex. Die Musikforschung, 9: 77ff.

Schrade, Leo. 1955/56. review of Der Squarcialupi-Codex Pal. 87 der Biblioteca Laurenziana zu Florenz. Notes, 13: 683ff. Notes: An neueren Ausgaben und Faksimiles sind zu nennen: MarroccoS I (Übertragungen von Nr. 1-39).

Reaney, Gilbert (editor). 1955-83. Early Fifteenth-Century Music. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 11, 1-6.  Rome: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: vol. V, Nos 1-7 (Transcriptions of Nos 318-324).

Wolf, Johannes, and Hans Albrecht (editors). 1955. Der Squarcialupi-Codex Pal. 87 der Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana zu Florenz.  Lippstadt: Kistner and Siegel. Pages: enthält eine vollständige Übertragung der ganzen Handschrift; vergleiche aber dazu die kritischen Besprechungen: G. Corsi in Belfagor 2 (Florenz 1957). Notes: includes a transcription of the entire volume - but for this cf. the critical discussion in G. Corsi in Belfagor 2 (Florenz 1957).

Pirrotta, Nino (editor). 1954-1998. The Music of Fourteenth Century Italy. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 8 (1-5).  Neuhausen nr. Stuttgart: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: vols I and III-V.

Blume, Friedrich (editor). 1949-79. Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik.  Kassel. Pages: VII, Tf. 4 (Faksimiles von Nr. 2 und 3) und XII, Sp. 1099/1100 (Faksimile von Nr. 1).

Wolf, Johannes. 1904; Reprinted: Hildesheim, 1965. Geschichte der Mensural-Notation von 1250-1460 nach den theoretischen und praktischen Quellen. 3 vols. Leipzig.

Ambros, August Wilhelm. 1880-82. Geschichte der Musik. 2. Auflage. 5 vols. Leipzig. Pages: III, 469ff.

Public Comments

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t van rijn

Saturday, 26 September, 2020

In the inventory folios 22-25v are missing. The folios 22-25 are indeed empty. However, folio 25v is not empty: the caccia of Firenze, Gherardello, da Tosto che l'alba, starts here and continues on folio 26. This gives a 4th reference to this caccia.

Thank you for your beautiful website, Tineke van Rijn

Contributions to this record are recorded here. If you wish to contribute information or a correction to this record, use the "Contribute a Change" link. This will then be reviewed by DIAMM staff and, if accepted, your contribution will be acknowledged here.

cornelis boeke

Tuesday, 29 July, 2025

Corrected attribution of "In forma quasi" (f. 36) - not by Vincenet (too late) but by Vincenzo da Rimini

Michael Anderson

Monday, 28 July, 2025

Inventory omits Landini's "Non avrà ma' pietà questa mia donna" (f. 134r). Omission corrected.

Carlos Iafelice

Tuesday, 25 June, 2024

Notified of address of external images and IIIF manifest.

Lachlan Hughes

Monday, 10 June, 2024

New URL for images provided

Philippa Ovenden

Thursday, 7 March, 2024

Madonna bech' i' miri in altra parte is on 110v

Jacob Reed

Monday, 12 June, 2023

Pointed out that the DIAMM inventory was wrong in not ascribing all of the first pieces (up to, and including, fol. 6v) to Giovanni da Cascia.

t van rijn

Wednesday, 21 June, 2017

Fixed inventory for folios 22-25v.

Répertoire Internationale des Sources Musicales

Monday, 23 January, 2017

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