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 |
Surge illuminare Jerusalem
|
|
Praetorius, Hieronymus
1560–1629
|
8 |
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem
|
|
Nanino, Giovanni Maria
1543/1544–1607
|
3 |
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem
|
|
Bianchi, Giulio Cesare
1576/1577–after 1637
|
4 |
Libro primo de motetti in lodi d'Iddi... (RISM 1620/3)
Libro primo de motetti in lodi d'Iddio nostro Signore a una, due, tre, quattro, cinque e a otto voci di Giulio Cesare Bianchi. Con un altro a cinque, e tre a sei del sig. Claudio Monteverdi
Venice: Magni, Bartolomeo, 1620
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#12
|
|
Attrib: Givlio Cesare Bianchi |
Canto, over Tenore |
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem - Et ambulabunt gentes
|
|
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
5 |
Primus tomus ecclesiasticarum cantion... (RISM P828)
Primus tomus ecclesiasticarum cantionum, quatuor, quinque, sex, et plurium vocum, a prima dominica adventus, usque ad passionem Domini et salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich, 1573
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#108
|
|
Attrib: Leonartum Pamingerum |
|
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem - Et ambulabunt gentes
|
|
Peetrinus, Jacobus
c.1553–1591
|
5 |
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem - Et ambulabunt gentes
|
|
Corteccia, Francesco
1502–1571
|
5 |
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem - Et ambulabunt gentes
Pothárn Imre (chiavette)
Pothárn Imre (down a fourth)
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
8 |
Motettorum quae partim quinis, partim... (RISM P711)
Motettorum quae partim quinis, partim senis, partim octonis vocibus concinantur, Liber Tertius nunc primum in lucem aeditus
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1575
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#28
|
|
Attrib: Iohannis Petraloysii Praenestini |
prima pars only |
Motettorum quae partim quinis partim ... (RISM P712)
Motettorum quae partim quinis partim senis, partim octonis vocibus concinantur, liber tertius
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1581
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#28
|
|
Attrib: Iohannis Petraloysii Praenestini |
prima pars only |
Corollarium cantionum sacrarum quinqu... (RISM 1590/5)
Corollarium cantionum sacrarum quinque, sex, septem, octo, et plurium vocum de festis praecipuis anni
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina, 1590
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#70
|
|
Attrib: Ioan. Petri Aloisii |
prima pars only |
(V-CVbav Capp.Sist. 29)
Rome: Orfeo, Luca, 1592
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#8
|
|
Attrib: Ioannes Prenest |
|
Liber tertius ... Motectorum quae par... (RISM P715)
Liber tertius ... Motectorum quae partim quinis, partim senis, partim octonis vocibus concinuntur
Venice: Gardano, Angelo, 1594
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#28
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petri Aloysii Praenestini |
Prima pars only |
(V-CVbav Barb.Lat.4184)
Rome, c.1600-c.1699
(Score, MS)
#24
|
|
Attrib: Jo: Prenestini |
|
|
Surge illuminare Jerusalem - Leva in circuitu
|
|
Conflicting attributions
|
4 |
Cantiones Selectissimae. Quatuor vocu... (RISM 1548/2)
Cantiones Selectissimae. Quatuor vocum... Liber primus
Augsburg: Ulhart, Philipp and Salminger, Sigmund, 1548
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#7
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Crequilon |
|
(D-Sl 36)
Stuttgart: Peuschel, Nikolaus, c.1548-1550
(Choirbook, MS)
#15
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Crequilon |
|
Choirbook D (NL-Lml 1441)
Leiden: Blauwe, Anthonius de and Flamingus, Johannes, c.1550-c.1567
(Choirbook, MS)
#38
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Cricquillon |
|
Liber secundus ecclesiasticarum canti... (RISM 1553/9)
Liber secundus ecclesiasticarum cantionum quatuor vocum vulgo moteta vocant, tam ex Veteri quam ex Novo Testamento, ab optimis quibusque huius aetatis musicis compositarum antea nunquam excusus
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1553
(Partbook, Print)
#5
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Crecquillon |
Iesaie capite Quadragesimo |
Liber quintus cantionum sacrarum vulg... (RISM C2702)
Liber quintus cantionum sacrarum vulgo moteta vocant, quatuor vocum, nunc primum in lucem editus
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#4
|
|
Attrib: Clemente non Papa |
|
(D-AN VI g 12)
Ansbach, 1564
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Surge illuminare - Stella ista sicut flamma
|
|
Colin, Pierre
fl.1538–1572
|
4 |
|
Surgens Christus Dominus noster
|
|
Dulichius, Philipp
1562–1631
|
5 |
Novum opus musicum duarum partium, co... (RISM D3686)
Novum opus musicum duarum partium, continens dicta insigniora ex evangeliis dierum cum dominicorum, tum festorum praecipuorum totius anni
Stettin: Myliander, Stephan, 1599
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#30
|
|
Attrib: Philippo Dulichio |
Dominica 2 post Resurrectionis |
|
Surgens Dominus noster - Resurrexit Dominus de sepulchro
|
|
Crecquillon, Thomas
c.1505–1557
|
5 |
Liber septimus cantionum sacrarum vul... (RISM 1555/4)
Liber septimus cantionum sacrarum vulgo mota vocant, quinque et sex vocum
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#7
|
|
Attrib: Cricquillon |
|
(D-ROu Mus.Saec.XVI-42)
Rostock: Weissenberger, Albert, c.1555-c.1570
(Choirbook, MS)
#15
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Crequilon |
|
Liber septimus cantionum
sacrarum v... (RISM 1556/1)
Liber septimus cantionum
sacrarum vulgo moteta vocant, quinque et sex vocum ex optimis quibusque Musicis selectarum
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1558
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#7
|
|
Attrib: Cricquillon |
|
|
Surgens Jesus
|
|
Philips, Peter
1560–1628
|
5 |
|
Surgens Jesus a mortuis - Avete nolite timere
|
|
Vento, Ivo de
1543-1545–1575
|
4 |
|
Surgens Jesus a mortuis - Surrexit Dominus vere
|
|
Mouton, Jean
before 1459–1522
|
4 |
Concentus octo, sex, quinque & quatuo... (RISM 1545/2)
Concentus octo, sex, quinque & quatuor vocum, omnium iucundissimi nuspiam antea sic aediti
Augsburg: Ulhart, Philipp and Salminger, Sigmund, 1545
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#30
|
|
Attrib: Ioannes Muton |
|
Evangelia Dominicorum et festorum die... (RISM 1554/10)
Evangelia Dominicorum et festorum dierum musicis numeris pulcherrimae comprehensa & ornata. Tomi Primi
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1554
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#37
|
|
Attrib: Ioannes Mouton |
|
|
Surgens Jesus Dominus noster
Pothárn Imre (Down a fourth)
Pothárn Imre (Down a tone)
Pothárn Imre
|
|
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
5 |
(D-Sl 1)
Stuttgart: Chamerhueber, Johann, c.1562-1563
(Choirbook, MS)
#23
|
|
Attrib: Orlandus Lassus |
|
Sacrae cantiones quinque vocum, tum v... (RISM L768)
Sacrae cantiones quinque vocum, tum viva voce, tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae. Iam primum in lucem editae
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1562
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#20
|
|
Attrib: Orlando di Lassus |
|
Sacrae cantiones quinque vocum, tum v... (RISM L779)
Sacrae cantiones quinque vocum, tum viva voce, tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae iam primum in lucem editae
Nuremberg: Neuber, Ulrich and Berg, Johann, 1564
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#20
|
|
Attrib: Orlando di Lassus |
|
Viginti quinque sacrae cantiones quin... (RISM L832)
Viginti quinque sacrae cantiones quinque vocum, tum viva voce, tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich, 1570
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#20
|
|
Attrib: Orlando di Lassus |
|
Primus liber modulorum quinis vocibus... (RISM L845)
Primus liber modulorum quinis vocibus constantium
Paris: Ballard, Robert (i) and Le Roy, Adrian, 1571
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Orlando Lassvsio |
|
(D-As Tonk.Sch. 13)
1578
(Choirbook, MS)
#2
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lasso |
|
Theatrum musicum Orlandi de Lassus, a... (RISM 1580/3)
Theatrum musicum Orlandi de Lassus, aliorumque praestantissimorum musicorum selectissimas cantiones sacras, quatuor, quinque & plurimum vocum, presentans. Liber primus
Geneva, 1580
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#8
|
|
Attrib: Orlande |
|
Fasciculi aliquot sacrarum cantionum ... (RISM L937)
Fasciculi aliquot sacrarum cantionum cum quatuor, quinque, sex & octo vocibus, antea quidem separatim excusi, nunc vero auctoris consensu in unum corpus redacti
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina, 1582
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#55
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi Lassi |
|
Sacrae cantiones, vulgo motecta appel... (RISM L961)
Sacrae cantiones, vulgo motecta appellatae, quinque vocum, tum viva voce, tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina, 1586
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#20
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi Lassi |
|
Fasciculi aliquot sacrarum cantionum ... (RISM L991)
Fasciculi aliquot sacrarum cantionum cum quatuor, quinque, sex 7 octo vocibus, antea quidem separatim excusi, nunc vero auctoris consensu in unum corpus redacti
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina, 1589
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#55
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi Lassi |
|
(D-Dl Mus.Gri.54)
Dresden, c.1590
(Partbook, MS)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Orlandus |
|
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
#176
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Surgens Jesus Dominus noster - Surrexit Dominus de sepulchro
|
|
Guyot de Châtelet, Jean
1512–1588
|
5 |
|
Surgens Jesus Dominus noster - Surrexit Dominus de sepulchro
|
|
Buissons, Michael-Charles des
fl.1560–1570
|
6 |
|
Surgens Jesus Dominus noster - Una ergo salvator
|
|
Ferrara, Simon de
|
4 |
(GB-Lcm 2037)
London, 1527-1534
(Partbook, MS)
#35
|
|
Attrib: Simon ferra |
|
|
Surge Panomphaeo - Et nunc Andrea
|
|
Meiland, Jacob
1542–1577
|
5 |
|
Surge Petre
|
|
Philips, Peter
1560–1628
|
5 |
Cantiones sacrae, pro praecipuis fest... (RISM P1973)
Cantiones sacrae, pro praecipuis festis totius anni et Communi sanctorum, quinis vocibus
Antwerp: Phalèse the Younger, Pierre, 1612
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#32
|
|
Attrib: Petro Philippi Anglo |
|
Sambrook book (US-NYp Drexel 4302)
London: Tregian, Francis (ii), 1613-1619
(Score, MS)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Pietro Philippi |
|
|
Surge Petre
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
5 |
Motettorum Quinque vocibus liber quintus (RISM P728)
Rome: Gardano, Alessandro, 1584
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Ioan. Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Motettorum quinque vocibus liber quintus (RISM P729/730)
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1588-1593
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Ioan. Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Motettorum quinque vocibus nunc denuo... (RISM P731)
Motettorum quinque vocibus nunc denuo in lucem aeditus. Liber quintus
Venice: Gardano, Angelo, 1595
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
(V-CVbav Capp.Sist. 298)
Rome: Biondini, Giovanni Domenico de, 1743
(Choirbook, MS)
#4
|
|
Attrib: Prenestini |
|
|
Surge Petre
|
|
Il Verso, Antonio
1565–1621
|
4 |
Mottecta quae partim ternis, partim q... (RISM I2)
Mottecta quae partim ternis, partim quaternis, alia quinis, alia senis concinuntur vocibus, quibus est addita operum divisio pro organo, liber primus
Palermo: Maringo, Giovanni Battista, 1606
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#12
|
|
Attrib: Antonii Versi |
|
|
Surge Petre - Angelus Domini astitit
|
|
Gombert, Nicolas
c.1495–c.1560
|
4 |
(S-Uu Vmhs 76a)
c.1490-1520
(Choirbook, MS)
#60
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
four parts written out in sequence over several leaves |
Motectorum, nuperrime maxima diligent... (RISM G2987)
Motectorum, nuperrime maxima diligentia in lucem aeditorum Liber secundus
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1541
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: N. Gomberti |
|
Motectorum nuperrime maxima diligenti... (RISM G2988)
Motectorum nuperrime maxima diligentia in lucem aeditorum. Liber secundus quatuor vocum
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1542
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: N. Gomberti |
|
Chansonnier de Zeghere van Male (F-CA 125-8)
Cambrai, 1542
(Partbook, MS)
#205
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Moduli undecim festorum solemnium tot... (RISM 1554/7)
Moduli undecim festorum solemnium totius anni, cum quatuor & quinque vocibus, a celeberrimis authoribus conditi, nunc recens editi
Paris: Du Chemin, Nicolas, 1554
(Choirbook, Print)
RISM
#6
|
|
Attrib: N. Gombert |
|
|
Surge Petre - Angelus Domini astitit
|
|
Gallet, François
c.1555–after 1585
|
6 |
|
Surge Petre - Angelus Domini astitit
|
|
Gombert, Nicolas
c.1495–c.1560
|
5 |
(D-Sl 36)
Stuttgart: Peuschel, Nikolaus, c.1548-1550
(Choirbook, MS)
#6
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Motetta cum quinque vocibus. Liber se... (RISM G2985)
Motetta cum quinque vocibus. Liber secundus
Scotto, Girolamo, 1550
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#17
|
|
Attrib: Nicolai Gomberti |
|
Carmina vere divina a praestantissimi... (RISM 1550/2)
Carmina vere divina a praestantissimis artificibus...
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1550
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Gombert |
|
Musici excellentissimi cum quinque vo... (RISM G2986 (1552/2))
Musici excellentissimi cum quinque vocibus liber secundus
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1552
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Nicolai Gomberti |
|
Secunda pars magni operis musici cont... (RISM 1559/1)
Secunda pars magni operis musici continens clarissimorum symphonistarum tam veterum quam recentiorum, praecipe vero Clementis non Papae, Carmina elegantissima quinque vocum
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#20
|
|
Attrib: N. Gombert |
|
|