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. Read more about the project's history at the 2018 Crowdfunder page.
The best way to help fund the project is to commission performing editions. New editions can be made quickly for as little as £10.
Understanding the clef images
A red clef means the voice is missing from this source. Where there are no concordances to fill in the gaps, this means the piece will require reconstruction.
A green clef means the voice is incomplete in this source. This might denote a fragment of a larger work, or a e.g. canonic voice that isn't written out in full.
A faded clef means much of the piece can be performed without this voice. For example, an extra 6th voice in the Agnus Dei of an otherwise 5vv Mass setting, or a short gimel in a big votive antiphon. Filtering by number of voices will exclude these clefs, while filtering by a specific voice combination will include them.
A blue clef denotes a voice that uses more than one clef in this source - this is particularly prevalent in earlier printed sources. We've estimated the larger clef on the left to be the most used to give an idea of voice distribution at a glance.
An X clef is used as a placeholder for voices we know are necessary, but haven't yet worked out which! This can be because there are no extant sources for a missing voice and no reconstruction has yet been attempted (it will normally become obvious which voice is missing once editing starts), or because we have catalogued a source from an incomplete facsimile that we know to be complete elsewhere.
Title |
Function(s) |
Composer |
# |
Sources |
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Savetta, Antonio
fl.1600–1641
|
8 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Anon
|
8 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Viadana, Lodovico
c.1540-1560–1627
|
1 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Patta, Serafino
fl.1606–1619
|
2 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Locatello, Giovanni Battista
c.1579–1593
|
8 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Baglioni, Girolamo
c.1575–1608
|
2 |
Sacrarum cantionum qua una, binis, te... (RISM B644)
Sacrarum cantionum qua una, binis, ternis, quatuor, quinque, & sex vocibus concinuntur, Liber primus, & opus secundum
Milan: Lomazzo, Filippo and Tini, Simone, 1608
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Hieronymi Ballioni |
|
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Anon
|
6 |
(E-SI 21)
Santo Domingo de Silos
(Choirbook, MS)
#35
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
Missing last page |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Anon
|
8 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis
|
|
Gay, Jose
d.1587
|
6 |
Motetes a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (E-VAcp 20)
Valencia, 1641
(Partbook, MS)
#42
|
|
Attrib: Josephus Gay |
|
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Adhaereat lingua mea faucibus meis
|
|
Appenzeller, Benedictus
c.1480-1488–after 1558
|
5 |
Liber primus sacrarum cantionum quinq... (RISM 1546/6)
Liber primus sacrarum cantionum quinque vocum vulgo moteta vocant, ex optimis quibusque huius aetatis musicis selecta
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1546
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#7
|
|
Attrib: Benedictus |
|
Tomus tertius psalmorum selectorum qu... (RISM 1553/6)
Tomus tertius psalmorum selectorum quatuor et plurium vocum
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1553
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#26
|
|
Attrib: Benedictus |
|
Choirbook B (NL-Lml 1439)
Leiden: Blauwe, Anthonius de, 1559
(Choirbook, MS)
#7
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Illic sedimus et flevimus
Pothárn Imre
|
|
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
5 |
Cantiones quas vulgo motetas vocant, ... (RISM L816)
Cantiones quas vulgo motetas vocant, patrim omnino novae, partim nusquam in Germania excusae, quinque et quatuor vocibus compositae per excellentissimum musicum
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich, 1568
(Choirbook, Print)
RISM
#21
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lassus |
|
Mellange d'Orlande de Lassus, contena... (RISM L834)
Mellange d'Orlande de Lassus, contenant plusieurs chansons, tant en vers latins qu'en ryme francoyses. A quatre, cinc, six, huit, dix, parties
Paris: Ballard, Robert (i) and Le Roy, Adrian, 1570
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#88
|
|
Attrib: Orlande |
|
Altera pars selectissimarum cantionum... (RISM L916)
Altera pars selectissimarum cantionum, quas vulgo motetas vocant, quinque et quatuor vocibus compositarum
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Gerlach, Katharina, 1579
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#24
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lassus |
= S.U. su. P.E.R. per. - I.L. il. L.I.C. lic. |
Magnum opus musicum ... Complectens o... (RISM L1019)
Magnum opus musicum ... Complectens omnes cantiones quas motetas vulgo vocant, tam antea editas quam hactenus nondum publicatas II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. IIX. IX. X. XII. vocum a Ferdinando serenissimi bavariae ducis maximiliani musicorum praefecto, & Rudolpho, eidem Principi ab Organis; Authoris filiis summo studio collectum, & impensis eorundem Typis mandatum
Munich: Heinrich, Nikolaus, 1604
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#280
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
= S.U. su. P.E.R. per. - I.L. il. L.I.C. lic. |
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Quomodo cantabimus
|
|
Mortaro, Antonio
fl.1587–1610
|
3 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Si oblitus fuero
|
|
Alonso
fl.1500
|
5 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Si oblitus fuero
|
|
Gombert, Nicolas
c.1495–c.1560
|
4 |
Primus liber cum quatuor vocibus. Mot... (RISM 1532/10)
Primus liber cum quatuor vocibus. Motetti del fiore
Lyon: Moderne, Jacques, 1532
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#6
|
|
Attrib: Nicolaus Gombert |
|
Musica quatuor vocum, (vulgo motecta ... (RISM G2977)
Musica quatuor vocum, (vulgo motecta nuncupatur,) Lyris maioribus, ac Tibijs imparibus accomodata. Nuper maximo authoris studio composita, nulli hactenus visa, sed noviter accuratissime in lucem edita. LIBER PRIMVS
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1539
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Gomberth |
|
Musica quatuor vocum, (vulgo motecta ... (RISM G2979)
Musica quatuor vocum, (vulgo motecta nuncupatur,) Lyris maioribus, ac Tibijs imparibus accomodata. Nuper maximo authoris studio composita, nulli hactenus visa, sed noviter accuratissime in lucem edita. LIBER PRIMVS. Cum quatuor vocibus
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1541
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Gomberth |
|
Tomus tertius psalmorum selectorum qu... (RISM 1542/6)
Tomus tertius psalmorum selectorum quatuor & quinque, & quidam plurium vocum
Nuremberg: Petreius, Johann, 1542
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#21
|
|
Attrib: Gombert |
|
Motectorum, Nuperrime Maxima diligent... (RISM 1551/2)
Motectorum, Nuperrime Maxima diligentia in lucem aeditorum Liber Primus quatuor vocum
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1551
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#16
|
|
Attrib: GOMBERT |
|
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Si oblitus fuero
|
|
Vulpius, Melchior
c.1570–1615
|
8 |
|
Super flumina Babylonis - Si oblitus fuero - Memor esto Domine
|
|
Colin, Pierre
fl.1538–1572
|
5 |
|
Super montem excelsum ascende tu - Clama in fortitudine
|
|
Handl, Jacob (Gallus)
1550–1591
|
5 |
|
Super montem excelsum ascende tu - Judea et Jerusalem
|
|
Conflicting attributions
|
4 |
Liber decimus quartus. xix. musicas c... (RISM M269)
Liber decimus quartus. xix. musicas cantiones continet
Paris: Jullet, Herbert and Attaingnant, Pierre, 1539
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#18
|
|
Attrib: P. de Manchicourt |
|
Liber sextus cantionum sacrarum vulgo... (RISM C2705)
Liber sextus cantionum sacrarum vulgo moteta vocant, quatuor vocum, nunc primum in lucem editus
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Clemente non Papa |
|
(D-AN VI g 12)
Ansbach, 1564
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#3
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Super muros tuos Jerusalem
|
|
Lambardi, Girolamo
fl.1586–1623
|
4 |
|
Super muros tuos Jerusalem - Praedicabunt populis
|
|
Porta, Costanzo
c.1528–1601
|
6 |
|
Super omnia ligna cedrorum
|
|
Marenzio, Luca
1553/1554–1599
|
4 |
|
Super omnia ligna cedrorum
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(P-Cug 70)
Coimbra, after 1570
(Partbook, MS)
#4
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Super omnia ligna cedrorum - O crux benedicta
|
|
Kerle, Jacobus de
1531/1532–1591
|
5 |
|
Super ripam Jordanis
|
|
Conflicting attributions
|
4 |
Symphonia quatuor modulata vocibus ex... (RISM 1543/4)
Symphonia quatuor modulata vocibus excellentissimi musici Ioannis Galli alias Chroi Ferrariae Magistri, quae vulgo (motecta Metre Iehan) nominantur, nuper in lucem edita
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1543
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#5
|
|
Attrib: Mestre Iehan |
|
Cantiones sacrae, quatuor vocum, quae... (RISM B880)
Cantiones sacrae, quatuor vocum, quae vulgo Muteta vocantur
Augsburg: Ulhart, Philipp, 1560
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#5
|
|
Attrib: Manfredo Barbarino Lupo |
|
|
Super ripam Jordanis - Vox de caelo sonuit
|
|
Clemens non Papa, Jacobus
c.1510–1555/1556
|
5 |
(D-Mbs 13)
Munich, 1545-1565
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#11
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non Pa. |
|
Liber secundus cantionum sacrarum (vu... (RISM 1554/2)
Liber secundus cantionum sacrarum (vulgo moteta vocant) quinque et sex vocum
Lyon: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1554
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#6
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
Also attrib. Crecquillon |
Quartus tomus evangeliorum quatuor qu... (RISM 1555/12)
Quartus tomus evangeliorum quatuor quinque sex et plurium vocum
Nuremberg: Berg, Adam and Neuber, Ulrich, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#2
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non Papa |
|
Liber decimus ecclesiasticarum cantio... (RISM 1555/8)
Liber decimus ecclesiasticarum cantionum quinque vocum vulgo moteta vocant, tam ex Veteri quam ex Novo Testamento, ab optimis quibusque huius aetatis musicis compositarum unius toni omnes antea nunquam axcusus
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
#3
|
|
Attrib: Iacobus Clemens non Papa |
Mathei Tertio |
Quintus liber modulorum, quinque vocu... (RISM C2685)
Quintus liber modulorum, quinque vocum, (quos vulgo moteta vocat)
[Geneva]: Du Bosc, Simon, 1556
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#7
|
|
Attrib: Clemente non Papa |
|
(D-Sl 9)
Stuttgart: Chamerhueber, Johann, 1571
(Choirbook, MS)
#8
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non Papa |
|
(D-Dl Mus.Gri.54)
Dresden, c.1590
(Partbook, MS)
RISM
#4
|
|
Attrib: Clemens non papa |
|
|