PL-Wn Rps 8054 III (Codex Krasiński)

Biblioteka Narodowa, Warsaw, Poland

manuscript of polyphony, bound with non-music MS: c. 1440; 1437-1441? (Gondko2026a)

Archive Biblioteka Narodowa, Warsaw, Poland (PL-Wn)
Shelfmark Rps 8054 III (Codex Krasiński)
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 304 x 220 mm
Other Identifiers
  • CCM: WarN 8054
  • olim (Former shelfmark): MS III.8054
  • olim (Former shelfmark): Krasiński 52
Notations
  • black full mensural
  • coloration in black full
  • coloration in black void
  • coloration in red full
Copyists
Relationships
External Links
Provenance
  • Poland
Contents Contains 39 compositions, 23 from 10 composers, 16 are anonymous.
General Description

Composite of several manuscripts of unrelated content, linked by the shared main scribal hand (probably Petrus de Casimiria (=Kazimierz, now part of Kraków?), who signed the 'Gesta Romanorum' in the textual portion of the manuscript - Gondko2026a). Consisting of two main parts: Part I = new ff. 1r-172v (non-musical contents; not taken into further consideration here); Part II = new ff. 173r-205v (polyphony). Part II, from c. 1440 (1437–41?) was most likely copied in Kraków (as suggested by the presence of Kraków-related compositions (BrewerAN, Gondko2026a).

The non-musical contents appear to be dated both earlier (c.1400) and later (c.1455), indicating that the separate elements were bound together after 1455. "The view that the two parts are unrelated and have been bound together by coincidence goes back to Zdzisław Jachimecki’s statements from 1914 and 1915; his perspective was adopted by Mirosław Perz and continues to be echoed in the literature. Neither author offered an explanation why this should be the case." (Gondko2026a), noting that the earliest texts dating from c.1400 appear to have marginalia added by Petrus de Casimiria, suggesting his ownership.

In Świdziński Library by the mid-19th century (as first reported in SowińskiLM). It subsequently became part of Krasiński Estate Library, where it remained until apparent confiscation and transfer to Germany prior to the destruction of the Krasiński Estate Library building in Warsaw in 1944. Surfaced again in Munich in 1948; subsequently returned to Biblioteka Narodowa.

Michał Gondko, 2026
Binding

Cardboard covered with light brown leather, with marbled endpapers inside. Tooled on spine with inscription ‘Rękopism z wieku XV’ [A 15th-Century Manuscript]. Present binding from c.1868. Holes in ff. 1 & 205 resulting from corrosion of the metal bosses of a previous (original?) binding.

Michał Gondko, 2026
Watermark

Two twin watermark pairs (bull’s head with a rod ending in a seven-petal flower; and bull’s head with a rod ending in a Latin cross). (1a/b) resemble Briquet #14790; (2a/b) resemble Briquet #14516 (AMP). Concordant watermarks suggest that the paper used in Part II dates from c. 1440 (1435–1442?) (Szyller). Analysis in Gondko2026a suggests that gatherings 17 and 18 (ff. 184-205) were written a little earlier (late-1430s?) than gathering 16 (ff. 173-183), which seems to slightly postdate 1440.

Michał Gondko, 2026
Notation

Black mensural notation with red black full and black void coloration

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

vi+206+v. Modern (nineteenth- or early twentieth-century?) pencil foliation, 1-205 (with f. 9 followed by 9a).

Michał Gondko, 2026
Decoration

Some inked Gothic initials.

DIAMM, 2017
Surface

paper

DIAMM, 2017
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.

Latin theological writings, with polyphony:

1 Kyrie, 10 Glorias, 5 Credos, 1 Sanctus, 2 Magnificats (1 incomplete), 16 motets (3 incomplete; some with secular texts), 1 response, 2 textless pieces = 38

Ciconia-3 + 1?, Egardus-1, (Grossin)-2, Nicholas of Radom-8, N. de Ostrorog-2* (Schweikl)-1, Zachara da Teramo [Czakaris magistri Anthony]-1, Zachara da Teramo or Zacharia? [Zacharie] -1, anon-18

*Name appears between sixth and seventh staves on f. 186, in motet "Pastor gregis"; may or may not refer to composer. Apparent attribution for Gloria on f. 205' is "O[pus] N. . . ."; remainder of name not clearly legible, but might refer to N. de Ostrorog, or to Nicholas of Radom, or to another unidentified composer.

vi + 205 + v paper folios, 304 x 220. Composite of two unrelated manuscripts later bound together: Part I = new ff. 1-172 (non-musical contents; not taken into further consideration here); Part II = new ff. 173-205 (polyphony). Modern foliation, 1-205. Rebound in modern covers of yellow leather tooled on back with inscription "Rekopism z wieku XV." No index. Black mensural notation with red full and black void coloration. Copied by a single scribe. Some inked Gothic initials. Watermarks: (1) resembles Briquet #14790; (2) resembles Briquet #14516 (AMP).

Ca. 1425-34 (BrewerAN). Copied in Krakow (BrewerAN). In Swidziñski library in Warsaw by 19th century; subsequently acquired by Krasiński family. Krasiński collection later transferred to Biblioteka Narodowa, Warsaw. Manuscript taken to Munich during World War II, but returned to Biblioteka Narodowa in 1948.

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

Gondko, Michał. 2026. A New Look at the Music Gatherings in the ‘Krasiński Codex’. Muzyka, 71(1): 3–66. https://czasopisma.ispan.pl/index.php/m/article/view/4823/3578. Notes: inventory, facsimiles, codicological and palaeographical insights, ownership/copyist, watermarks, gathering structure.

Gondko, Michał. 2026. On the Authorship of Compositions Attributed to Nicolaus de Ostrorog in the ‘Krasiński Codex’. Muzyka, 71(1): 189–197. https://czasopisma.ispan.pl/index.php/m/article/view/4830/3583. Notes: Questions attributions to Ostrorog & identifies a possible reference to the composer in the matriculation roll of Kraków University (1437); new reading of attribution of final Gloria & proposal for composer; new transcription of final Gloria.

‡ Budzinska-Bennett, Agnieszka, and Marc Lewon (editors). 2025. Kodeks Krasiński - Krasiński Codex (Warszawa, Biblioteka Narodowa, Rps 8054 III): A Performer's Edition with Essays and a Critical Commentary. 429. Krakow: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (Polish Music Publishing House). 979-0-2740-3900-4. Notes: contents, discussion, transcriptions, facsimiles (partial).

Perz, Miroslaw. 2009. Wokół Mikołaja Radomskiego z figlami błazna Bobika [Concerning Mikołaj Radomski and the pranks of Bobik the Jester]. Muzykolog wobec świadectw źródłowych i dokumentów. Księga pamiątkowa dedykowana Profesorowi Piotrowi Poźniakowi w 70. rocznicę urodzin [The Musicologist and Source Documentary Evidence: A Book of Essays in Honour of Professor Piotr Poźniak on his 70th Birthday], Musica Iagellonica.  Krakow.

Dabrowski, Maciej, and Halina Tchorzewska-Kabata (editors). 2003. Rękopis muzyczny Kras. 52 [Music Manuscript Kras. 52]. Nad złoto droższe: Skarby Biblioteki Narodowej [More precious than gold: treasures of the National Library],  Warsaw.

Jabłonka, Agnieszka. 2002. Średniowieczne rękopisy z Biblioteki Krasińskich [Medieval manuscripts from the Krasiński Library]. Biuletyn Informacyjny Biblioteki Narodowej, 45/4: 35-9. https://bn.org.pl/ download/document/1246021122.pdf.

Wojnowska, Elżbieta. 2002. Kras. 52 – europejski zabytek polskiej kultury muzycznej z I połowy XV wieku [Kras. 52 – a European relic of Polish musical culture from the first half of the fifteenth century]. Biuletyn Informacyjny Biblioteki Narodowej, 45/4: 40-4. https://bn.org.pl/download/document/1246021122.pdf.

Szyller, Slawomir. 1993. Ekspertyza znaków wodnych w rękopisie Biblioteki Narodowej w Warszawie, Sygn. III.8054 (olim Kras 52) (składki 16–18 zawierające utwory muzyczne) [A study of the watermarks in the manuscript III.8054 (olim Kras 52) from the National Library in Warsaw (gatherings 16–18 containing musical compositions)]. unublished typescript prepared for the Department of Polish Music History at the Musicological Institute of the University of Warsaw. Notes: watermarks.

Perz, Miroslaw. 1992. Kontrafaktury ballad w rękopisie Kras 52 (Pl-Wn 8054) [Contrafacta of ballades in the manuscript Krasiński 52]. Muzyka, 37: 89–111.

Welker, Lorenz. 1987. New Light on Oswald von Wolkenstein: Central European Traditions and Burgundian Polyphony. Early Music History, 7: 187-226. Pages: 212 as exx 7c and 7d.

Bent, Margaret, and Anne Hallmark (editors). 1985. Complete Works of Johannes Ciconia. Polyphonic Music of the Fourteenth Century, vol. 24.  Monaco: Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre. Pages: XXIV,l 17-8,199-200,203,209,226.

Brewer, Charles Everett. 1984. The Introduction of the Ars Nova into East Central Europe: A Study of Late Medieval Polish Sources. City University of New York, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: 257-309,438-44,579.

Perz, Miroslaw. 1984. Zur Textunterlegungspraxis in der Mehrstimmigkeit des 14. und 15. Jahrhunderts und über einige in Polen Neu-und Wiedergefundene Quellen dieser Zeit. Musik und Text in der Mehrstimmigkeit des 14. und 15. Jahrhunderts: Vorträge des Gastsymposiums in der Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel, 8. bis 12. September 1980, Göttinger Musikwissenschaftliche Arbeiten, vol. 10. edited by Miroslaw Perz, 327-49. Kassel: Bärenreiter. Pages: 329,331-7.

Staehelin, Martin. 1983. review of Sources of Polyphony up to c. 1500: Transcriptions, ed. Mirosław Perz (= Antiquitates Musicae in Polonia 14).

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: IV, 118.

Poźniak, Piotr. 1979. review of Sources of Polyphony up to c. 1500: Facsimiles and Transcriptions, ed. Mirosław Perz (= Antiquitates Musicae in Polonia 13–14).

Perz, Miroslaw. 1970. Die Einflüsse der Ausgehenden Italienischen Ars Nova in Polen. L'Ars Nova Italiana del Trecento, 465-83. Pages: 470ff.

Sutkowski, Adam (editor). 1969. Les oeuvres complètes de Nicolas de Radom (fl. 1420-1430).  Brooklyn.

Fischer, Kurt von. 1967. Die Lauda 'Ave Mater' und ihre verschiedenen Fassungen. Colloquium Amicorum: Joseph Schmidt-Görg zum 70, 93-9. Bonn. Pages: 93-9.

Feicht, Hieronim. 1966. Quellen zur Mehrstimmigen Musik in Polen vom Späten Mittelalter bis 1600. Musica Antiqua: Acta Scientifica [Bydgoszcz, Poland], 1: 281-93. Pages: 282-3.

Feicht, Hieronim (editor). 1966. Muzyka staropolska [Old Polish Music].  Krakow. Pages: xvii, 11-29,374-6.

Kirsch, Winfried. 1966. Die Quellen der mehrstimmigen Magnificat- und Te Deum-Vertonungen bis zur Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts.  Tutzing. Pages: 172.

Szweykowski, Zygmunt M (editor). 1964. Muzyka w dawnym Krakowie (Music in Old Cracow).  Krakow. Pages: l-16,22-8,297ff.

‡ Perz, Miroslaw (editor). 1963-. Antiquitates Musicae in Polonia.  Warsaw and Graz. Pages: XIII,xxii-xxvi,37-102; XIV,17ff,204-379.

Clercx-Lejeune, Suzanne, and Suzanne Clercx. 1960. Johannes Ciconia, un musicien liégois et son temps. Académie Royale de Belgique, Classe des Beaux-Arts: Mémoires: Collection in-4, II série, vol. X, fasc. 1a/1b. 2 vols. Brussels: Palais des Académies. Pages: I,58-61, 78-80; 11,25-6,32,143-50,157-9, PI. XIV.

Layton, Billy Jim. 1960. Italian Music for the Ordinary of the Mass 1300-1450. Harvard University, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Pages: 144ff,198,200,230-1,244,249,383,385-9.

Szweykowski, Zygmunt M. 1958. Z Dziejów Polskiej Kultury Muzycznej.  Krakow. Pages: I,58ff, two plates following 48.

Reaney, Gilbert (editor). 1955-83. Early Fifteenth-Century Music. Corpus mensurabilis musicae, vol. 11, 1-6.  Rome: American Institute of Musicology. Pages: III,xiii-xiv; VI,ix,xxvi-xxix.

Blume, Friedrich (editor). 1949-79. Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik.  Kassel. Pages: I,7O7; X, Tafel 83; XVI, 1053-4.

Apel, Willi. 1942. (4th ed., 1949). The Notation of Polyphonic Music 900-1600.  Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pages: 186,444.

Jachimecki, Zdzisîaw. 1927. Muzyka Polska w Epoce Piastów i Jagiellonow. Polska: jej dzieje i kultura od czasów najdawniejszych do chwili obecnej Volume 1, 531-55. Warsaw. Pages: 535-40.

Jachimecki, Zdzisîaw. 1915. Muzyka na dworze króla Władysława Jagiełły, 1424-1430.  Kraków. Pages: 2-3. Notes: relationship of music/non-music contents.

Jachimecki, Zdzisîaw. 1914. Rozwój kultury muzycznej w Polsce [The development of musical culture in Poland].  Kraków. Pages: 3. Notes: relationship of music/non-music contents.

Polinski, Aleksander. 1907. Dzieje muzyki polskiej w zarysie.  Lwów. Pages: 40-1.

Sowiński, Wojciech. 1857. Les musiciens polonais et slaves, anciens et modernes. Dictionnaire biographique.  Paris. Pages: 424.

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Michal Gondko

Monday, 20 July, 2026

Description, bibliography and inventory expanded and improved. New link to higher-quality images added. Substantial updates to bibliography have been made. Proposal for Petrus de Casimiria as owner/copyist added. Inventory updates including bibliographical and explanatory material; also, the identification of the composer of the final Gloria as Ostrorog has been challenged and Nicolaus Frangens de Leodio suggested instead; Caro mea (f. 176v) identified as not concordant with Q15; and Ostrorog's role in Pastor gregis (f. 186) questioned/clarified

Jokūbas Gadišauskas

Tuesday, 4 November, 2025

added image link

Eric Jas

Friday, 24 March, 2023

Corrected attribution of 'Ave mater O Maria' (Oswald von Wolkenstein)

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