PRoMs - The Production and Reading of Music Sources

Mise-en-page in manuscripts and printed books containing polyphonic music, 1480—1530

Manuscript: Munich, Germany, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Musica MS 34 (= MaiM 88)

Manuscript type: choirbook

RISM siglum: D-Mbs 34

DIAMM Source Key: 2062

Image repositories: Digitale Bibliothek (BSB Munich), IDEM

Folio(s): All folios

Date: 1521 - c. 1530

Kellman 1976, Kellman 1999

Location of origin: Brussels, Belgium ; Mechelen, Belgium

Provenance

Copied in Brussels/Mechlin; belongs to Netherlands court complex. Sent to Munich for presentation to Wilhelm IV, Duke of Bavaria (1493-1550); placed in ducal court library, whose holdings formed foundation of present Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.

Artists/Scribes

Person: Scribe C1 (member of Habsburg-Burgundian 'Alamire' workshop (Mechelen, Belgium))
Person type: scribe

Person: Scribe H2 (member of Habsburg-Burgundian 'Alamire' workshop (Mechelen, Belgium))
Person type: scribe

Person: Scribe I, (member of Habsburg-Burgundian 'Alamire' workshop (Mechelen, Belgium))
Person type: scribe

Person: Scribe Z, (member of Habsburg-Burgundian 'Alamire' workshop (Mechelen, Belgium))
Person type: scribe

Bibliography

Bente 1968, Cross 1966–, Gottwald 1961–8, Ingram 1973, Kellman 1976, Kellman 1989, Kellman 1999, Nugent 1970, Parker 1963, Parker 1964–, Wolff 1956

Basis for description: original

Munich, Germany, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Musica MS 34 (= MaiM 88), All folios

Physical description

Material: paper

Number of leaves: i + 131 + i

Format: upright

Page dimensions: 480 x 275

Quire structure: Text version

Other devices: 1. Modern pencil foliation recto top right, 1-131 (by J. J. Maier)

Page details (zoom):

Preparation and Copying

All folios

Preparation

Disposition of Voice Parts Key

Pricking sometimes,
mostly ruled freehand without a guide
Ruled grid always,
Single lines to left and ight, text lines where needed
Ruling pattern fairly regular
Staves omitted from grid often
Incomplete staves rarely
Note Blank folios: 1r, 37v-38r, 49v-50r, 57v-58r, 81v-82r, 103v, 131v; blank staves only on f. 104r.
Medium and colour of grid Frequency Folios Note
hard point and lead point always
Colour of staves Frequency Folios Note
black always
Ruling medium Frequency Folios Note
single rastrum always
Indentation for initials Frequency Folios Note
single often
double sometimes
Extra space between voice parts Frequency Folios Note
variable space, not on grid often
empty ruled staves on grid rarely
Space provided for separate text Frequency Folios Note
no separate text always
Adhoc adaptation Frequency Folios Note
notation and staves extended into margin rarely

Copying of text and music

Language(s) Latin
Order of Copying music first
always
Presence/absence of text Voice part Frequency Folios Note
fully texted with one text all voice parts normally
fully texted with two texts all voice parts rarely
Music
Colour(s) of notation black
Type(s) of notation void mensural
Type of notation note rhomboid-shaped notation
Monophonic notation absent
Level of calligraphy high
Non verbal performance instructions Folios Note
signes-de-renvoi black
repeat signs
Line fillers Folios Note
occasionally repeated custodes
Text 1
Types of script cursive (bastarda)
Level of calligraphy high
Colour(s) of text black
Multiple texts no
Text repetitions fairly few
Abbreviations fairly few
Non underlaid vocal text none
Liminary text Composers, titles, numbers of voices above first verso; Tacet inscriptions; Verte instructions; voice designations (with initials except discantus); Residuum indications
Text 2
Types of script display script
Types of script size position Composers, titles, numbers of voices above first verso; Tacet inscriptions; Verte instructions; voice designations (with initials except discantus); Residuum indications; cantus firmus texts
Types of script note somewhat bigger and more elaborate than sung text
Level of calligraphy high
Colour(s) of text black red
usually red; tacet inscriptions black
Multiple texts no

Decoration

Level of Decoration fair
Decoration miniature frequency Folios Size position Description Discrepancies
rarely 2r 2 lines at beginning of Contratenor Coat of Arms of the House of Bavaria
Decoration initial type Frequency Folios Initial type(s) Size position Description Discrepancies
painted initials rarely 1v-2r decorated with grotesque heads, zoomorphic initial
penned initials normally calligraphic At beginning of every Salve except the first Fairly simple cadel-type initials, 2 lines for discantus and contratenor, 1 line for others, referring to sung text (discantus) or to voice-name (others)