PRoMs - The Production and Reading of Music Sources

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

Manuscript: Coimbra, Portugal, Biblioteca Geral da Universidade, MS M.12

Manuscript type: choirbook

RISM siglum: P-Cug 12

DIAMM Source Key: 1696

Image repositories: PEM

Folio(s): All folios

Date: First half 16th century

Late 15th-early 16th century (MME). Second quarter of 16th century (Hardie 1983). C. 1540-1550 (PEM)

Location of origin: Coimbra, Portugal

Provenance

From the monastery of Santa Cruz, in Coimbra.

Artists/Scribes

Person: Anonymous, Anonymous
Person type: scribe

Basis for description: high-quality image

Coimbra, Portugal, Biblioteca Geral da Universidade, MS M.12, All folios

Physical description

Material: paper

Number of leaves: i + 209 + i

Format: upright

Page dimensions: 523 x 390

Index / Table of Contents: Incomplete original index on front flyleaf.

Other devices: Original foliation, 1-210; f. 36 missing.

Page details (zoom):

Preparation and Copying

All folios

Preparation

Disposition of Voice Parts Key

Pricking none visible
Ruled grid always,
single vertical line to the left and right; double text line where text is present.
Ruling pattern highly regular
Staves omitted from grid never
Incomplete staves never
Medium and colour of grid Frequency Folios Note
hard point and lead point always
red ink rarely 198v-200r
Colour of staves Frequency Folios Note
black always
red rarely 198v, 199v pasteover, for chant
Ruling medium Frequency Folios Note
single rastrum always two separate rastra, one c. 29 mm, one c. 34 mm
Indentation for initials Frequency Folios Note
single normally staves 1 and 5 (in 8-stave ruling) or 1 and 6 (in 9-stave ruling). Sometimes forgotten for lower voices and initlals over ruled staves with music and text indented.
double occasionally staves 1-2. On these pages no indentation for lower voices.
Extra space between voice parts Frequency Folios Note
empty ruled staves on grid often
Space provided for separate text Frequency Folios Note
no separate text always
Adhoc adaptation Frequency Folios Note
made for complete additional staves rarely 9v, 36v, 37r 9v: 11-stave page. Top 4 staves normal ruling for 8-stave preparation; bottom 7 staves added with smaller rastrum (c. 23 mm). 36v: pasteover for D (top 6 staves); 37r: stave pasted on at bottom; 171v: pasteover for tenor (blank); 198v and 199v pasteover for tenor with three staves of chant (c. 44 mm high)

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
untexted all voice parts rarely
Music
Colour(s) of notation brown
Type(s) of notation void mensural, chant (Gothic)
Type of notation note rhomboid shaped notation, various hands
Monophonic notation present
7v, 71v, 108v, 198v, 199v, 201v,
chant tenors
Level of calligraphy fair
Non verbal performance instructions Folios Note
signes-de-renvoi rarely
Line fillers Folios Note
occasionally extended final longs
Text 1
Types of script various
Types of script note a number of different scribes with substantially variying styles; mostly textura of different kinds, but also some cursive
Level of calligraphy fair
Colour(s) of text brown
Multiple texts no
Text repetitions few
Abbreviations fairly many
Non underlaid vocal text additional
158v-159r,
extra hymn strophes
Liminary text Composer ascriptions, some Voice designations, some Rubrics (in red), occasionally Tacet instructions, some Canon instructions, rarely
Text 2
Types of script display script
Types of script size position for many voice designations, composer ascriptions and rubrics; mostly textura, some Roman capitals.
Level of calligraphy high
Colour(s) of text black red

Decoration

Level of Decoration fair
Decoration initial type Frequency Folios Initial type(s) Size position Description Discrepancies
painted initials rarely 36v-37r decorated single-stave plant shapes on monochrome ground in square frame
penned initials often calligraphic , calligraphic with decoration, flourished mostly single-stave, some double-stave Cadel-type initials of various degrees of elaboration, rarely with modest pen flourishing. Mostly black, some red.
initials planned often
Other decoration frequency Folios Other decoration type(s) Size position Description Discrepancies
sometimes decorative final long