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 6 (= MaiM 2)

Manuscript type: choirbook

RISM siglum: D-Mbs 6

DIAMM Source Key: 2060

Image repositories: Digitale Bibliothek (BSB Munich), IDEM

Folio(s): All folios

Date: c. 1508-30

Kellman 1989, Kellman 1999

Location of origin: Brussels, Belgium ; Mechelen, Belgium

Provenance

Copied in Brussels/Mechlin; belongs to Netherlands court complex (Kellman 1976). 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 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, Bezzel 1967, Van Doorslaer 1929–32, Elders 1974, Josephson 1973, Josephson 1975, Kast 1955, Kellman 1958, Kellman 1976, Kellman 1989, Kellman 1999, Maier 1879, Nugent 1970, Osthoff 1962, Smijers 1940–6, Sparks 1972, Youens 1978

Basis for description: original

Munich, Germany, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Musica MS 6 (= MaiM 2), All folios

Physical description

Material: paper

Number of leaves: 144

Format: upright

Page dimensions: 560 x 385

Quire structure: Text version

Other devices: 1. Modern pencil foliation recto top right, 1-144 (by J. J. Maier). Many folios lack numbers, but all included in enumeration.
2. Original quire marks, recto bottom middle, a1-a6, b1-b6 etc.; apparently on all rectos, but many trimmed off so not entirely clear

Page details (zoom):

Preparation and Copying

All folios

Preparation

Disposition of Voice Parts Key

Pricking rarely,
for bounding lines only
Ruled grid rarely,
bounding lines often on both verso and recto; sometimes (ff. 12-37, 63-94) on verso only also often double horizontal lines in lead point as text guide. Text on double line, but only where text present (often only partial staves)
Ruling pattern fairly irregular
Staves freely (and often quite irregularly) ruled to accommodate music
Staves omitted from grid n/a
Incomplete staves rarely
Medium and colour of grid Frequency Folios Note
hard point or lead point normally
Colour of staves Frequency Folios Note
black always
Ruling medium Frequency Folios Note
single rastrum always
Indentation for initials Frequency Folios Note
single often
triple rarely
double often for large initials at beginning of pieces and major sections (usually only D), also for 'Residuum' (much shallower indentation)
Extra space between voice parts Frequency Folios Note
variable space, not on grid sometimes
Space provided for separate text Frequency Folios Note
no separate text always
Adhoc adaptation Frequency Folios Note
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 always
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 occasionally, in red
Line fillers Folios Note
sometimes repeated custodes
Text 1
Types of script cursive (bastarda)
Level of calligraphy very high
Colour(s) of text black
Multiple texts yes
cantus firmus texts, occasionally
Text repetitions fairly many
Abbreviations fairly many
Non underlaid vocal text none
Liminary text Voice designations (with initials except for D, sometimes upright within initials), Verte instructions (red), composers (occasionally) and mass titles (both in red).
Later changes some text added later
Text 2
Types of script display script
Types of script size position Voice designations (with initials except for D, sometimes upright within initials), Tacet instructions, Verte instructions, composers and mass titles, cantus firmus texts with music.
Level of calligraphy very high
Colour(s) of text black red
Voice designations in black, others in red

Decoration

Level of Decoration high
Decoration miniature frequency Folios Size position Description Discrepancies
rarely 38r recto top left (contratenor), instead of initial Bavarian ducal arms
Decoration initial type Frequency Folios Initial type(s) Size position Description Discrepancies
painted initials often 12v-13r, 37v-38r, 58v-59r, 83v-84r, 106v-107r decorated with grotesque heads at beginning of masses multicoloured and very elaborate. Relating to voice-names rather than sung text except in D.
penned initials rarely 123v-124r calligraphic , flourished at beginning of mass Relating to voice-names rather than sung text except in D.
penned initials normally calligraphic Always at beginning of sections; usually one line except D which is often two lines. Relating to voice-names rather than sung text except in D.