The Polyphony Database
polyphonydatabase@gmail.com
About the database❯
PolyphonyDatabase.com is a detailed catalogue of early music sources designed to help musicians perform, academics study, and enthusiasts explore a vast and glorious repertoire quickly and easily. It aims to combine the practicality of CPDL with the academic rigour and ambition of the RISM census, to make use of similar projects where possible, and to directly combat the frustrations performing musicians have with all existing resources.
Its three main goals are:
- To assist performers, directors, and editors by cataloguing the contents of primary sources, source concordances, and basic information about how each piece of music can be performed.
- To provide a reliable starting point for academic research by linking to library catalogues, other existing databases, and facsimile images of early music manuscripts and prints.
- To provide a repository for properly sourced critical editions, performing scores, and recordings of as much of this music as possible, each carefully vetted for typesetting quality and accuracy, and made available for free download, so that this music might be discovered and appreciated by a wider audience.
The database was founded by Francis Bevan in 2014 as an outlet for his editing hobby and is regularly updated by him and a small team of enthusiasts. If you would like to contribute some cataloguing time, recordings or editions, submit corrections, commission an edition or just donate some cash, please get in touch with Francis via email: polyphonydatabase@gmail.com.
The best way to help fund the project is to commission performing editions. New editions can be made quickly for as little as £10.
Read more about the project's history at the 2018 Crowdfunder page.
Title |
Function(s) |
Composer |
# |
Sources |
3 voices upon the plainsong
|
|
Baldwin, John
before 1560–1615
|
3 |
|
Ab aeterno ordinata sum
|
|
Agazzari, Agostino
c.1580–1642
|
2 |
|
Ab aeterno ordinata sum
|
|
Monteverdi, Claudio
1567–1643
|
1 |
|
Abeuntes Pharisei
|
|
Maistre Jhan
c.1485–1538
|
4 |
|
A bien grant tort vous faictes ce partaige
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
A bien grant tort vous m'avez pris en hayne
|
|
Gombert, Nicolas
c.1495–c.1560
|
4 |
|
A bien parler que c'est d'amours
|
|
Conseil, Jean
1498/1501–1534
|
4 |
|
Ab initio et ante saecula
|
|
Burgh, Cornelius
c.1590–c.1639
|
3 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi
|
Epiphany |
Lombardi, Bartolomeo
fl.1578
|
5 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi
|
Epiphany |
Handl, Jacob
1550–1591
|
4 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi
|
Epiphany |
Nucius, Johannes
c.1556–1620
|
5 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi
|
Epiphany |
Dulichius, Philipp
1562–1631
|
5 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi - Aurum et thus
|
Epiphany |
Sweelinck, Jan Pieterszoon
1562–1621
|
5 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi - Aurum sicut regi magno
|
Epiphany |
Praetorius, Hieronymus
1560–1629
|
5 |
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi Jerosolimam - Videntes autem stellam
|
|
Clemens non Papa, Jacobus
c.1510–1555/1556
|
5 |
(D-Dl Mus.1-D-3)
Dresden, 1550-1560
(Partbook, MS)
RISM
#60
|
|
Attrib: C non papa |
|
Liber sextus cantionum sacrarum vulgo... (RISM 1554/5)
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1554
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#6
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
|
(D-ROu Mus.Saec.XVI-42)
Rostock: Weissenberger, Albert, c.1555-c.1570
(Choirbook, MS)
#8
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
|
Septimus liber modulorum, quatuor, qu... (RISM 1556/11)
[Geneva]: Du Bosc, Simon, 1556
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: C. non Papa |
Bassus pages missing |
Liber sextus cantionum sacrarum vulgo... (RISM 1558/5)
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1558
(Partbook, Print)
#6
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
|
Secunda pars magni operis musici cont... (RISM 1559/1)
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#58
|
|
Attrib: Ia. Clemens non Papa |
|
|
Ab oriente venerunt magi - Videntes autem stellam
|
Epiphany |
Hoyoul, Balduin
1547/1548–1594
|
6 |
(D-Sl 8)
Chamerhueber, Johann, 1569-1570
(Choirbook, MS)
#22
|
|
Attrib: Hoyou |
|
|
Ab ortu solis - Venite comedite
David Fraser (ATTB)
Ensemble Plus Ultra
|
Maundy Thursday |
Byrd, William
c.1540–1623
|
4 |
|
Above the stars my Saviour dwells
|
|
Tomkins, Thomas
1572–1656
|
6 |
(GB-Cpc 6.1-6)
c.1625-1644
(Partbook, MS)
#33
|
|
Attrib: Mr Tomkins |
|
Musica Deo Sacra & Ecclesiae Anglican... (RISM T950)
London: Godbid, William, 1668
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#18
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Tomkins |
|
|
Abraham pater vester
|
Lent V |
Lambardi, Girolamo
fl.1586–1623
|
4 |
|
Abraham pater vester - Amen dico vobis qui sermonem meum
|
|
Otto, Georg
1550–1618
|
6 |
|
Absalon fili mi
|
|
Josquin Desprez
c.1450–1521
|
4 |
(GB-Lbl Royal-8-G-vii)
London: Alamire, Petrus, c.1513-c.1525
(Choirbook, MS)
#32
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Selectissimae necnon familiarissimae ... (RISM 1540/7)
Augsburg: Kriesstein, Melchior, 1540
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#24
|
|
Attrib: Iosquin |
|
Tertia pars magni operis musici, cont... (RISM 1559/2)
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: Iosquin de Prees |
|
|
Absalon fili mi
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
Absolve Domine
|
|
Vasquez, Juan
c.1500–c.1560
|
4 |
Agenda defunctorum (RISM V996)
Montedosca: Montedosca, Martin de, 1556
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#22
|
|
Attrib: Ioanes Vasquez |
|
|
Absolve Domine
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(E-SI 21)
Santo Domingo de Silos
(Choirbook, MS)
#30
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Absolve Domine animas eorum
|
Office for the dead |
Anon
|
4 |
(D-Mbs 2747)
(Choirbook, MS)
#12
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
Officium defunctorum: Matins, second nocturn - responsory, lectio I |
|
Absolve quaesumus Domine
|
|
Anon
|
8 |
|
Absorbeat quaeso
|
|
Monte, Philippe de
1521–1603
|
6 |
|
Absterge Domine
Tallis Scholars
|
|
Tallis, Thomas
c.1505–1585
|
5 |
Hamond partbooks (GB-Lbl Add. 30480–4)
London, c.1560-c.1590
(Partbook, MS)
#27
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
as Wipe away my sins |
Sadler partbooks (GB-Ob 1-5)
Oxford: Sadler, John, c.1565-1585
(Partbook, MS)
#35
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Tallis |
|
(GB-Ckc Rowe 316)
Cambridge, 1565
(Partbook, MS)
#4
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
as Wipe away my sins |
Cantiones quae ab argumento sacrae vo... (RISM 1575/3)
London: Vautrollier, Thomas, 1575
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#2
|
|
Attrib: T. Tallis |
|
A booke of In nomines & other solfain... (GB-Lbl Add. 31390)
London: Woodcock, Clement, c.1578
(Tablebook, MS)
#109
|
|
Attrib: mr Tallis |
|
Braikenridge MS (GB-Ob Tenbury 1486)
Oxford: Sadler, John, 1591
(Partbook, MS)
#23
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Willmott MS (GB-Ob MS. Mus. c. 784)
Oxford: Sadler, John, 1591
(Partbook, MS)
#23
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
(US-NYp Drexel 4180-4185)
New York: Merro, John, 1600-1650
(Partbook, MS)
#95
|
|
Attrib: Mr Tallis |
|
(US-NYp Drexel 4180-4185)
New York: Merro, John, 1600-1650
(Partbook, MS)
#39
|
|
Attrib: Mr Tallis |
as Wipe away my sins |
|
Absterget Deus omnem lacrymam
|
Comm. Martyrs |
Paminger, Balthasar
c.1523–1546
|
4 |
|
Absterget Deus omnem lacrymam
|
Comm. Martyrs |
Porta, Costanzo
c.1528–1601
|
6 |
|
Absterget Deus omnem lacrymam
|
Comm. Martyrs |
Handl, Jacob
1550–1591
|
6 |
|
Absterget Deus omnem lacrymam
Francis Bevan (SATB)
|
Comm. Martyrs |
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
4 |
|
Absterget Deus omnem lacrymam
|
Comm. Martyrs |
Paminger, Sigismund
1539–1571
|
4 |
|
Absterget Deus omnem lacrymam - Non esurient
|
Comm. Martyrs |
Vecchi, Orfeo
c.1551–1603
|
4 |
|
Abus sert a conduire en court
|
|
Anon
|
3 |
|
Acabarseam mis plazeres
|
|
Anon
|
3 |
|
A caena calice accepto
|
|
Kessler, Wendelin
fl.1572–1580
|
5 |
|
Accedens tentator dixit Jesu
|
|
Dulichius, Philipp
1562–1631
|
5 |
|
Accedentes servi ad patrem - At ille dixit non - Colligite primum zizania
|
|
Vulpius, Melchior
c.1570–1615
|
6 |
|
Accepit autem omnes timor
|
|
Faber, Benedikt
|
6 |
|
Accepit Jesus calicem
|
Corpus Christi |
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
6 |
Bourdenay codex (F-Pn 851)
Paris, c.1570-c.1599
(Score, MS)
#342
|
|
Attrib: Gianetto Palestrina |
|
Motettorum quae partim quinis, partim... (RISM P711)
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1575
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#26
|
|
Attrib: Iohannis Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Motettorum quae partim quinis partim ... (RISM P712)
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1581
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#26
|
|
Attrib: Iohannis Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Liber tertius ... Motectorum quae par... (RISM P715)
Venice: Gardano, Angelo, 1594
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#26
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petri Aloysii Praenestini |
|
|
Accepit Jesus panem
|
Corpus Christi |
Guyot de Châtelet, Jean
1512–1588
|
6 |
|
Accepit Jesus panem
Nancho Alvarez
|
Corpus Christi |
Guerrero, Francisco
1528–1599
|
4 |
(E-SE 6)
(Choirbook, MS)
#32
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Motteta ... que partim quaternis, par... (RISM G4871)
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1570
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: Francisci Gverreri |
|
Motecta (RISM G4877)
Venice: Vincenti, Giacomo, 1597
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#31
|
|
Attrib: Francisci Gverreri |
|
|
Accepit Jesus panes
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(E-SI 21)
Santo Domingo de Silos
(Choirbook, MS)
#13
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae
|
Ordinary Time 16 (post Pentecost IX) |
Senfl, Ludwig
c.1486–1542/1543
|
4 |
|
Acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae
|
Ordinary Time 16 (post Pentecost IX) |
Isaac, Heinrich
c.1450–1517
|
4 |
|
Acceptable is nothing more
|
|
Whythorne, Thomas
1528–1596
|
2 |
|
Accesserunt ad Jesum - Non legistis quia - Propter hoc dimit
|
|
Clemens non Papa, Jacobus
c.1510–1555/1556
|
5 |
(D-Dl Mus.1-D-3)
Dresden, 1550-1560
(Partbook, MS)
RISM
#30
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Liber octavus cantionum sacrarum vulg... (RISM 1555/5)
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
#1
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
|
Secunda pars magni operis musici cont... (RISM 1559/1)
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#60
|
|
Attrib: Ia. Clemens non Papa |
|
Choirbook B (NL-Lml 1439)
Leiden: Blauwe, Anthonius de, 1559
(Choirbook, MS)
#11
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
|
|
Accessit ad eum mater filiorum - Nescitis quid petatis
|
|
Reiner, Jacob
before 1560–1606
|
8 |
|
Accessit ad Jesum centurio
|
|
Dulichius, Philipp
1562–1631
|
5 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu
|
Mary Magdalene |
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
4 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu
|
Mary Magdalene |
Resinarius, Balthasar
c.1485–1544
|
4 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu - Dimissa sunt ei peccata
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu - Dimissa sunt ei peccata multa
|
Mary Magdalene |
Wanning, Johannes
1537–1603
|
6 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu - Dimissa sunt ei peccata multa
|
Mary Magdalene |
Deiss, Michael
fl.1564–1568
|
5 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu - Dimissa sunt ei peccata multa
|
Mary Magdalene |
Tonsor, Michael
before 1546–after 1606
|
4 |
|
Accessit ad pedes Jesu - Et osculata est - Dimissa sunt ei peccata multa
|
Mary Magdalene |
Isaac, Heinrich
c.1450–1517
|
4 |
|
Accessit Jesus ad loculum
|
Ordinary Time 23 (post Pentecost XVII) |
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
4 |
|
Accingimini et estote
|
|
Zacchino, Giulio
fl.1572–1584
|
4 |
|
Accipe quae - Dum mihi natus erat
|
|
Maistre Jhan
c.1485–1538
|
5 |
(I-TVd 36)
Treviso, c.1530
(Partbook, MS)
#13
|
|
Attrib: M Jan |
|
|
Accipe qua recrees - Quo fers cumque
|
|
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
6 |
|
Accipiens Simeon
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(I-TVd 14)
Treviso, c.1560-1626
(Choirbook, MS)
#23
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Accipiens Simeon
|
Candlemas |
Catalani, Ottavio
d.1644
|
3 |
|
Accipient iusti regnum decoris
|
|
Handl, Jacob
1550–1591
|
4 |
|
Accipite ergo animis - Quod cadit in spinas
|
|
Kessler, Wendelin
fl.1572–1580
|
5 |
|
Accipite et concedite
|
|
Molinaro, Simone
c.1570–after 1633
|
5 |
|
Accipite iucunditatem
|
|
Erbach, Christian
c.1568–1635
|
5 |
(D-As Tonk.Sch. 22)
Dreer, Johannes, 1614
(Choirbook, MS)
#50
|
|
Attrib: Erbachii |
introit; pentecost tuesday |
|
Accipite iucunditatem
|
|
Chamaterò, Ippolito
c.1535–after 1592
|
4 |
|
Accipite iucunditatem gloriae vestrae
|
|
Asola, Giovanni Matteo
c.1532–1609
|
4 |
|
Accipite iucunditatem gloriae vestrae
|
|
Lambardi, Girolamo
fl.1586–1623
|
4 |
|
Accipite iucunditatem gloriae vestrae
|
|
Amon, Blasius
c.1560–1590
|
4 |
|
Accipite iucunditatem gloriae vestrae
|
|
Porta, Costanzo
c.1528–1601
|
5 |
|
Accipite iucunditatem gloriae vestrae
|
|
Senfl, Ludwig
c.1486–1542/1543
|
4 |
|
Accipite scutum fidei
|
|
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
4 |
|
Accompany the good
|
|
Whythorne, Thomas
1528–1596
|
2 |
|
Accordez moy que vostre soye
|
|
Baston, Josquin
fl.1542–1563
|
5 |
|
Accumbit Christus cum discipulis duodenis - Et pane accepto post multa precamina frangit
|
|
Kessler, Wendelin
fl.1572–1580
|
5 |
|
A ce bon ami
|
|
Clemens non Papa, Jacobus
c.1510–1555/1556
|
3 |
|
A ce joly moys de may
|
|
Janequin, Clément
c.1485–after 1558
|
4 |
|
A certain man who was named
|
|
Tye, Christopher
c.1505–1573
|
4 |
|
A che cercar
|
|
Anon
|
5 |
|
A che con nuovo laccio donna legarmi
|
|
Anon
|
5 |
|
Ach Gott wem soll ichs klagen
|
|
Steurlein, Johann
1546–1613
|
4 |
|
Ach gütter gsell von wannen her
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
Ach Herr straf mich nicht in Deinem Zorn - Wende dich Herr und errette meine Seele - Weichet von mir alle Übeltäter
|
|
Rab, Valentin
|
5 |
|
Ach lib mit laid wie hast dein bschaid
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
Ach medlin rain ich hab allain
|
|
Senfl, Ludwig
c.1486–1542/1543
|
5 |
|
Ach Vater unser der du bist
|
|
Nucius, Johannes
c.1556–1620
|
5 |
|
Acordes moy ce que ye pense
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
Acquiesce Domine - Desolentur pro intercede
|
|
Berchem, Jacquet de
c.1505–1567
|
5 |
|
Acriter in invenem - Inclyta virginei - Despondet iuvenis
|
|
Palladius, David
fl.1572–1599
|
6 |
|
Ac si praesens sis accedo
|
|
Aichinger, Gregor
1564–1628
|
4 |
|
Actiones nostras quaesumus Domine
Francis Bevan (SATTB)
|
|
Dentice, Scipione
1560–1635
|
5 |
|
Adaperiat Dominus
|
|
Animuccia, Giovanni
c.1520–1571
|
5 |
|
Adaperiat Dominus cor vestrum
|
|
Zacchino, Giulio
fl.1572–1584
|
4 |
|
Adaperiat Dominus cor vestrum
|
|
Lechner, Leonhard
c.1553–1606
|
5 |
|
Adaperiat Dominus cor vestrum
|
|
Valcampi, Curtio
|
6 |
|
Adaperiat Dominus cor vestrum
|
|
Lambardi, Girolamo
fl.1586–1623
|
4 |
|
Adaperiat Dominus cor vestrum - Sustinuimus pacem
|
|
Trombetti, Geronimo
|
5 |
|
Ad auge nobis Domine - Praesta ut divinum verbum tuum
|
|
Buissons, Michael-Charles des
fl.1560–1570
|
6 |
|