GB-Lbl Add. MS 47844

British Library, London, England

single partbook: 1581

Archive British Library, London, England (GB-Lbl)
Shelfmark Add. MS 47844
Surface Paper
Numbering System Foliation
Format landscape
Measurements 98 x 149 mm
Other Identifiers
  • CCM: LonBL 47844
Notations
  • black void mensural
Relationships
External Links
Provenance
  • England
Contents 32 pieces from 10 composers
General Description

A single Altus/Tenor partbook. One scribe copied ff. 2-6', 8, 9-10, and 13-15; second scribe copied ff. 7-7', 8', 10'-12', and 15'-16; fragments on original flyleaves in a third hand. All pieces have text incipits or titles only. Copied in England. Acquired by British Museum as part of bequest from E. H. W. Meyerstein in 1953.

DIAMM, 2017
Binding

Original limp vellum covers (inscribed 'Count[er] tener', inside front cover), formerly part of another manuscript.

DIAMM, 2017
Notation

black void mensural

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

Other numberings: Original numbering of pieces, 1-23 (counts Pars II of one motet separately).

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

New pencil foliation, 1-17, includes original flyleaves, apparently taken from an earlier music manuscript

DIAMM, 2017
Decoration

Left borders decorated with inked spiral patterns; ornamental designs enclosing the words 'Good songe' (or simply 'Good') and date '1581' appear at end of many pieces

DIAMM, 2017
Surface

paper

DIAMM, 2017
DIAMM Note

Digitized with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK) for the Tudor Partbooks project at the Universities of Oxford and Newcastle.

DIAMM, 2023
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.

1 Kyrie, 7 Mass Proper sections, 2 hymns, 10 motets, 1 In nomine, 1 textless piece = 22 + several fragments copied on original fly-leaves

Byrd-6, Lassus [Harlando]-1, R. Parsons I-1, Shepherd-2, Strogers-1, Taverner-1, (Tye)-1, R. White-2, anon-7

1 paper partbook (A/T-i + i + 15 + i + i folios), 98 x 149. New pencil foliation, 1-17, includes original flyleaves, apparently taken from an earlier music manuscript. Original numbering of pieces, 1-23 (counts Pars II of one motet separately). Original parchment covers (inscribed "Countertenor"), formerly part of another manuscript. No index. One scribe copied ff. 2-6', 8, 9-10, and 13-15; second scribe copied ff. 7-7', 8', 10'-12', and 15'-16; fragments on original flyleaves in a third hand. Left borders decorated with inked spiral patterns; ornamental designs enclosing the words "Good songe" (or simply "Good") and date "1581" appear at end of many pieces. All pieces have text incipits or titles only.

1581 (date on several folios). Copied in England. Acquired by British Museum as part of bequest from E. H. W. Meyerstein in 1953.

Vol 4

Composers: Change "Taverner-1" to "Taverner/(R. Johnson I)-1"; change "R. White-2" to "R. White-1, R. White/(W.? Mundy)-1."

Census-Catalogue of Manuscript Sources of Polyphonic Music 1400-1550

3v

Click an entry to see more information about that item.

Folio / Pages Composition / Item title Source attribution Composers (? Uncertain)
i_r Tyme - Anonymous

Tyme

Anonymous
Appears on: i_r
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c4
Voice Text: Tyme / [untexted]
General Note

Notes: fragment: half of page cut - piece seems to end in bottom line though (followed by barlines and a +'); C4 only at beginning, then C3;

i_v instrumental piece - -
Appears on: i_v
Genres: textless
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: Count[er] tener' in top right corner of page (different ink than the music?); [...] 8 / p[ar]ts' over second system; at end 'finis' and some later scribbles (in same ink as 'Count[er] tener'?; Notes: top line of music in brown ink, the others in black;

i_v–18r untexted piece - -
Appears on: i_v–18r
Genres: textless
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c3
Voice Text: …nnter
i_v–18r [Veni?] M… Anonymous

[Veni?]

Anonymous
Appears on: i_v–18r
Source Attribution: M…
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c4
Voice Text: Veni [?]
2r [Christe qui lux es (II)] Precamur sancte Domine Mr Whighte
Appears on: 2r
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Whighte
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: PECCAmur
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: V.VOC..' and '5' at opening;

2v In nomine a6 Mr Strogers
Appears on: 2v
Source Attribution: Mr Strogers
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: In noie Strogers
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 8' at opening'; 'Good' at end;

3r Kyrie Paschali Mr Shepparde
Appears on: 3r
Genres: Kyrie eleison, Mass Ordinary
Source Attribution: Mr Shepparde
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: KiRi
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: Vi. VOC.' and '9' at opening; 'Good' at end; '15' under note in middle of third line;

3r Haec dies -
Appears on: 3r
Genres: Motet
Position on Page

This piece starts at the end of line 2, with just the first 3 notes following a median final, as if starting a new section of the initial work on the page. This is clearly a miscopying, with the scribe failing to note the initiation of a new work. Had this been recognised as a new work it would surely have started on a new line instead of having the last three notes 'orphaned' at the end of the second line of the page. The same error is to be found in the Hamond Partbooks (GB-Lbl Add. MSS 30480–4), but as the books are directly contemporary it is not possible to tell which is the parent and which the child.

3v–4r Laudate pueri Dominum Mr BiRDi / Mr Birde
Appears on: 3v–4r
Source Attribution: Mr BiRDi / Mr Birde
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: LAVDATE
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: VI.VOC: Mr BirDi' at top, '8.' at opening; 'Good' at end; note corr. towards end of third line (note squeezed in); Notes: only half of the bottom line of f. 3v used, then continuing on next folio;

4r–4v Ne irascaris - 1a pars (of 2): Ne irascaris Domine Mr Birde
Appears on: 4r–4v
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Birde
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: NEiRA SCARiS
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 8' at opening'; 'Sio' and 'ierusale' cues within piece; '1581' at end;

4v–5 Ne irascaris - 2a pars (of 2): Civitatis sancti tui -
Appears on: 4v–5
Genres: Motet
5r–5v Gaudeamus omnes in Domino Vs. [Exultate justi] Rectos decet laudatio; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio -
Appears on: 5r–5v
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: GAVDE
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 5' at beginning'; 'Rectos' and 'Sicut' (beginning of 2a and 3a pars) on f. 5; 'Good' at end; Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566), In festo omnium sanctorum (all chant passages removed);

5v–6r Statuit ei Dominus testamentum Vs. [Memento Domine David] Et omnis mansueudinis; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio -
Appears on: 5v–6r
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: Statuit
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: V.VOC:' and '0' at beginning; 'Et' and 'Sicut' on f. 5v at beginning of 2a and 3a partes; '1581 /Good / Songe' at end; Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566), In festo S. Martini ep. et conf. (all chant passages removed);

6r [Vox de caelis] Catharinae redditur Vs.. [Haec audiens] Laeta surrexit; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio -
Appears on: 6r
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: VOOX:
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: I' at beginning'; 'good' and '1581' at end; Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566), In festo S. Catharinae virginis et mart. (all chant passages removed);

6v [Mihi autem nimis] Honorati sunt Vs. [Domine probasti me] Tu cognovisti; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio -
Appears on: 6v
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: Mihi
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: V. VOC.' and '.9.' at beginning'; note/stem corr. in first line; over end of top line: 'sing menim & crochet'; note/stem corr. in third line; 'TV' and 'Sicut' in second and fourth lines, at beginnings of 2a and of 3a pars; '1581.' at end; Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566), In festo S. Andreae apostoli (all chant passages removed);

7r [In medio ecclesiae] Aperuit os eius Vs. [Bonum est confiteri] Et psallere nomini tuo; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio] -
Appears on: 7r
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: IN medio
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 5' at beginning'; Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566) In festo S. Ambrosii episcopi et doctoris (all chant passages removed);

7v [Egredimini] Et videte Vs. [Ostenfat faciem suam] Quia eloquiem suum; R.. (Gloria patri…) Sicut erat in principio] -
Appears on: 7v
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: EGredimini
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: V.VOC' and '0' at beginning'; 'Quia' and 'Sicut' in fourth and fifth line, at beginning of 2a and 3a pars; note corr. towards end of top line?; stem erased towards end of penultimate line; Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566), In conceptione sanctae Mariae virginis (all chant passages removed);

8r [Dilexisti] Justitiam Vs. [Eructavit cor meum] Dico ego opera; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio] -
Appears on: 8r
Genres: Hymn
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c4
Voice Text: dilexisti
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: V: VOC:' and '8' at beginning; 'DiCO' and 'Sicut' in third and fourth line, at beginning of 2a and 3a pars; several times '3' under notes in top and third lines; 'Ad romauos' at end; item no. '12' entered only in pencil (others are in ink); Notes: From Constanzo Porta's Musica in introitus missarum (Venice 1566), In festo S. Luciae virginis et martyris (all chant passages removed);

8v Dum transisset sabbatum Maria Magdalena Mr Tauerner [Johnson]
Appears on: 8v
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Tauerner [Johnson]
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: SAbbATVM
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: V: VOC.' and '8' at beginning; 'Good' at end;

9r I lift my heart to thee (= Amavit eum Dominus) -
Appears on: 9r
Genres: Anthem, Contrafactum
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: Amauit
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 8' at beginning; 'good' at end;

9v Libera me Domine et pone - 1a pars (of 2): Libera me domine et pone me Mr Byrde
Appears on: 9v
Genres: Anthem
Source Attribution: Mr Byrde
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: Libera [2p. Dies]
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 5' at beginning;

10r Libera me Domine et pone - 2a pars (of 2): Dies mei transierunt -
Appears on: 10r
Genres: Anthem
10v–11r Peccavi super numerum Mr Birdi / Mr Byrde
Appears on: 10v–11r
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Birdi / Mr Byrde
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 5' at beginning; 'Good' at end;

11v–12r In te Domine speravi (6vv) - 1a pars (of 2): In te Domine speravi non confundar Harlando
Appears on: 11v–12r
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Harlando
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 15' at beginning;

12r–12v In te Domine speravi (6vv) - 2a pars (of 2): Quoniam fortitudo mea et refugium Harlando
Appears on: 12r–12v
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Harlando
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: g2
Voice Text: Quoniam
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: good' at end; Notes: labelled as second part of 'In te Domine speravi' from which it continues;

12v Libera nos, salva nos [I] Mr Sheppard
Appears on: 12v
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Sheppard
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: Salva me
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 15' at beginning; '1581' and 'x' at end;

13r–13v Da mihi auxilium Mr Byrde
Appears on: 13r–13v
Source Attribution: Mr Byrde
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: Da mihi
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 12' at beginning; 'Good' at end;

13v–14v Deus misereatur nostri et benedicat nobis Mr Whighte
Appears on: 13v–14v
Genres: Anglican Service Music, Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Whighte
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: Deus [2p. Eterna]
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: correction on final page; '5' at beginning; '1581', 'good' and 'good' at the end;

15r O lux beata trinitas - 1a pars (of 3): O lux beata trinitas et principalis Mr Birde
Appears on: 15r
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Birde
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c3
Voice Text: O lux beata [2p. Deo]
General Note

Canon/Gimels: Tres parte in vna subdiapente aliud in diateresseron'; Annotations/Corrections: 8' at beginning; 'te' cue within piece; 'good' at end;

15r O lux beata trinitas - 2a pars (of 3): Te mane laudum carmine te deprecamur -
Appears on: 15r
Genres: Motet
15r O lux beata trinitas - 3a pars (of 3): Deo patri sit gloria eiusque soli -
Appears on: 15r
General Note

with canon: "Tres parte (sic) in VIIa suddiapente aliud iii diatessaron"

15v–16r The song called trumpets = Lusty Gallant Mr Parsone
Appears on: 15v–16r
Genres: Motet
Source Attribution: Mr Parsone
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: English
Mensuration: cut-c
Clef: c4
Voice Text: Mr Parsone
General Note

Annotations/Corrections: 8' at beginning;

Composer Compositions
Anonymous
Byrd, William (ca. 1540–1623)
Johnson (I), Robert (ca. 1500–ca. 1560)
Lassus, Orlande de (ca. 1532–1594)
Parsons (I), Robert (ca. 1535–ca. 1572)
Porta, Costanzo
Sheppard, John (ca. 1515–1558)
Strogers, Nicholas
Tye, Christopher (ca. 1505–ca. 1573)
White, Robert (ca. 1538–1574)
Composition Composers (? Uncertain) Folios / Pages
[Christe qui lux es (II)] Precamur sancte Domine 2r
[Dilexisti] Justitiam Vs. [Eructavit cor meum] Dico ego opera; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio] 8r
[Egredimini] Et videte Vs. [Ostenfat faciem suam] Quia eloquiem suum; R.. (Gloria patri…) Sicut erat in principio] 7v
[In medio ecclesiae] Aperuit os eius Vs. [Bonum est confiteri] Et psallere nomini tuo; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio] 7r
[Mihi autem nimis] Honorati sunt Vs. [Domine probasti me] Tu cognovisti; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio 6v
[Veni?] Anonymous i_v–18r
[Vox de caelis] Catharinae redditur Vs.. [Haec audiens] Laeta surrexit; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio 6r
Da mihi auxilium 13r–13v
Deus misereatur nostri et benedicat nobis 13v–14v
Dum transisset sabbatum Maria Magdalena 8v
Gaudeamus omnes in Domino Vs. [Exultate justi] Rectos decet laudatio; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio 5r–5v
Haec dies 3r
I lift my heart to thee (= Amavit eum Dominus) 9r
In nomine a6 2v
In te Domine speravi (6vv) - 1a pars (of 2): In te Domine speravi non confundar 11v–12r
In te Domine speravi (6vv) - 2a pars (of 2): Quoniam fortitudo mea et refugium 12r–12v
instrumental piece - i_v
Kyrie Paschali 3r
Laudate pueri Dominum 3v–4r
Libera me Domine et pone - 1a pars (of 2): Libera me domine et pone me 9v
Libera me Domine et pone - 2a pars (of 2): Dies mei transierunt 10r
Libera nos, salva nos [I] 12v
Ne irascaris - 1a pars (of 2): Ne irascaris Domine 4r–4v
Ne irascaris - 2a pars (of 2): Civitatis sancti tui 4v–5
O lux beata trinitas - 1a pars (of 3): O lux beata trinitas et principalis 15r
O lux beata trinitas - 2a pars (of 3): Te mane laudum carmine te deprecamur 15r
O lux beata trinitas - 3a pars (of 3): Deo patri sit gloria eiusque soli 15r
Peccavi super numerum 10v–11r
Statuit ei Dominus testamentum Vs. [Memento Domine David] Et omnis mansueudinis; R. [Gloria patri] Sicut erat in principio 5v–6r
The song called trumpets = Lusty Gallant 15v–16r
Tyme Anonymous i_r
untexted piece - i_v–18r

Images © The British Library

Set: TUDOR PARTBOOKS

Type: Project Collection

No images available

GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 41

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 42

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 43

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 44

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 57

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 59

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 60

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 61

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GB-Lbl Royal Appendix 62

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GB-Lcm [pr. bk.] B187

No images available

GB-Lcm [pr. bk.] B190 [Altus]

No images available

GB-Lcm [pr. bk.] B190 [Bassus]

No images available

GB-Lcm [pr. bk.] B190 [Discantus]

No images available

GB-Lcm [pr. bk.] B190 [Tenor]

No images available

GB-Ob MS. Tenbury 807

No images available

GB-Ob MS. Tenbury 808

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GB-Ob MS. Tenbury 809

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GB-Ob MS. Tenbury 810

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GB-Ob MS. Tenbury 811

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GB-Och Mus. 45

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IRL-Dm [pr. bk.] Z4. 3. 1-5

No images available

US-NYp Mus. Res. Drexel 4182

denotes primary source study

Edwards, Warwick. 1974. Instrumental Consorts in England from the Accession of Henry VIII to the Commonwealth. Cambridge University,, Ph.D. dissertation. Notes: discussion.

Hofmann-Brandt, H. 1971. Die Tropen zu den Responsorien des Officiums. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Doctoral Dissertation, 2 parts. Notes: discussion.

Willetts, Pamela J. 1970. Handlist of Music Manuscripts aquired 1908-1967. Pages: 27. Notes: physical description (partial).

Harrison, Frank Llewellyn (editor). 1963-. Early English Church Music.  London: Stainer & Bell. Pages: XVII, 157 [indicated concordance incorrect]; XXIX, 128, 134. Notes: physical description (partial); contents list (partial); concordances (partial).

Kerman, Joseph. 1961. Byrd's Motets: Chronology and Canon. Journal of the American Musicological Society, 359-82. Pages: 362. Notes: contents list (partial).

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Carlos Rodríguez Otero

Monday, 23 May, 2022

'Dum transisset' on f. 8v identified as the five-voice setting by Robert Johnson;sSee Hugh Benham, John Taverner: His Life and Music (Routledge, 2003), 58.

Benedict Randall Shaw

Monday, 11 April, 2022

Noted that Dum transisset on fol. 8v does not match with Taverner's other settings of this text.

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