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 propera amica mea
|
|
Patta, Serafino
fl.1606–1619
|
1 |
|
Surge propera amica mea
|
|
Esquivel Barahona, Juan
c.1562–c.1625
|
3 |
Psalmorum, Hymnorum, Magnificarum, et... (E-RON Esquivel 1613)
Psalmorum, Hymnorum, Magnificarum, et B. Mariae quatuor antiphonarum de tempore, necnon et missarum. Tomus secundus
Salamanca: Cea Tesa, Francisco de, 1613
(Choirbook, Print)
#69
|
|
Attrib: Ioannis Esquivel |
Motetum Beatae Mariae cantandum in organo |
|
Surge propera amica mea
|
|
Praetorius, Jacob (ii)
1586–1651
|
5 |
Harmonia Sacra in honorem nuptiarum o... (RISM P5347)
Harmonia Sacra in honorem nuptiarum ornatissimi et integerrimi viri-juvenis Dn. Jacobi Stoeven civis Hamburgensis sponsi; cum lectissima et pudicissima virgine Cornelia
Hamburg: Lange, Paul, 1611
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#1
|
|
Attrib: Jacobo Praetorio |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea
|
|
Burgh, Cornelius
c.1590–c.1639
|
3 |
Liber primus concertuum ecclesiastico... (RISM B5018)
Liber primus concertuum ecclesiasticorum ternis vocibus in gratiam omnis generis tam cantorum quam instrumentorum nunc primum in lucem editus
Cologne: Greuenbruch, Gerhard, 1626
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#3
|
|
Attrib: Cornelio Bvrgh Ubio |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea - Hodie nata est
|
|
Anon
|
5 |
|
Surge propera amica mea [I]
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
5 |
Motettorum Quinque vocibus liber quar... (RISM P716)
Motettorum Quinque vocibus liber quartus nunc denuo in lucem aeditus
Rome: Gardano, Alessandro, 1583-1584
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Mottetorum quinque vocibus liber quar... (RISM P717)
Mottetorum quinque vocibus liber quartus ex Canticis Salomonis, nunc denuo in lucem aeditus
Venice: Gardano, Angelo, 1587
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Mottetorum quinque vocibus liber quar... (RISM P721)
Mottetorum quinque vocibus liber quartus ex Canticis Salomonis, nunc denuo in lucem aeditus
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1596
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Offertoria ... et Cantica canticorum ... (I-Bc U.4)
Offertoria ... et Cantica canticorum eiusdem
Bologna, c.1600-c.1699
(Score, MS)
#83
|
|
Attrib: Io. Petri Aloisii Praenestini |
|
Mottetorum Quinque vocibus Liber Quar... (RISM P723)
Mottetorum Quinque vocibus Liber Quartus, ex Canticis Salomonis Nunc denuo in lucem aeditus
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1603
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Ioan. Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Motectorum quinque vocibus. Liber qua... (RISM P725)
Motectorum quinque vocibus. Liber quartus
Venice: Raverii, Alessandro, 1608
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Io. Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea [I]
|
|
Nanino, Giovanni Maria
1543/1544–1607
|
3 |
|
Surge propera amica mea [II]
|
|
Nanino, Giovanni Maria
1543/1544–1607
|
3 |
|
Surge propera amica mea [II] - Veni dilecte mi
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
5 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Ista est speciosa
|
|
Wisme, Nicholas de
fl.1554–1564
|
5 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Ostende mihi faciem
|
|
Anon
|
5 |
Cantiones septem, sex et quinque vocu... (RISM 1545/3)
Cantiones septem, sex et quinque vocum. Longe gravissimae, iuxta ac amoenissimae in Germania maxime hactenus Typis non excusae. Ad lectorem. Per mare delphin transuexit & orphea, vatem, concentu dulci musica nostra refert
Augsburg: Kriesstein, Melchior and Salminger, Sigmund, 1545
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#23
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Cantiones septem, sex et quinque vocu... (RISM 1546/5)
Cantiones septem, sex et quinque vocum. Longe gravissimae, juxta ac amoenissimae, in Germania maximehactenus Typis non excusae
Augsburg: Kriesstein, Melchior and Salminger, Sigmund, 1546
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#23
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea - Surge amica mea speciosa
|
|
Crecquillon, Thomas
c.1505–1557
|
4 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Surge formosa mea
|
|
Lupi, Johannes
c.1506–1539
|
4 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Surge propera amica mea
Pothárn Imre (Down a tone)
Pothárn Imre (Down a fourth)
Pothárn Imre
|
|
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
6 |
(A-Wn 15946)
Vienna
(Choirbook, MS)
#11
|
|
Attrib: Orlandus |
|
Sacrae cantiones (vulgo motecta appel... (RISM L794)
Sacrae cantiones (vulgo motecta appellatae) quinque, et sex vocum. Tum viva voce tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae. Liber secundus
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1566
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi Lassi |
|
Selectissimae cantiones, quas vulgo m... (RISM L815)
Selectissimae cantiones, quas vulgo motetas vocant, partim omnino novae, partim nusquam in Germania excusae, sex & pluribus vocibus compositae per excellentissimum Musicum
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich, 1568
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#8
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lassus |
|
Selectissimae cantiones, quas vulgo m... (RISM L915)
Selectissimae cantiones, quas vulgo motetas vocant, partim omnino novae, partim nusquam in Germania excusa, sex & pluribus vocibus compositae
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina and Berg, Johann, 1579
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lassus |
|
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
#21
|
|
Attrib: Orlande |
|
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
#369
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea - Surge propera amica mea
|
|
Handl, Jacob (Gallus)
1550–1591
|
4 |
Quartus tomus musici operis harmoniar... (RISM H1985)
Quartus tomus musici operis harmoniarum quatuor, quinque, sex, octo et plurium vicum, quae ex sancto catholicae ecclesiae usu ita sunt dispositae, ut omni tempore inservire queant
Prague: Nigrinus, Georg, 1590
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#105
|
|
Attrib: Iacobo Hándl |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea - Surge propera amica mea
|
|
Phinot, Dominique
c.1510–c.1556
|
6 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Surge propera speciosa mea
|
|
Praetorius, Hieronymus
1560–1629
|
8 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Tempus putationis advenit
|
|
Massaino, Tiburtio
before 1550–after 1608
|
5 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Tota pulchra es
|
|
Nucius, Johannes
c.1556–1620
|
5 |
|
Surge propera amica mea - Veni de libano sponsa
|
|
Conflicting attributions
|
6 |
Guillermi le heurteur, Ecclesiae diui... (RISM L1638)
Guillermi le heurteur, Ecclesiae diui Martini Tvronensis canonici, artisqve modvlatorie peritissimi professoris. Operum musicalium liber primus
Paris: Attaingnant, Pierre, 1545
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#1
|
|
Attrib: Guillermi le heurteur |
|
Thesauri musici tomus tertius contine... (RISM 1564/3)
Thesauri musici tomus tertius continens cantiones sacras quas vulgo motetas vocant ex optimis musicis selectas
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1564
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#47
|
|
Attrib: Dominicus Phinot |
|
|
Surge propera amica mea - Vox turturis audita est
Nancho Alvarez
|
|
Guerrero, Francisco
1528–1599
|
6 |
Motteta ... que partim quaternis, par... (RISM G4871)
Motteta ... que partim quaternis, partim quinis, alia senis, alia octonis concinuntur vocibus
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1570
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#36
|
|
Attrib: Francisci Gverreri |
CF: Veni sponsa Christi |
|
Surge propera - Surge propera
|
|
Ferrabosco, Alfonso (i)
1543–1588
|
5 |
|
Surge sancte Dei - Ambula sancte Dei
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
5 |
Motettorum Quinque vocibus liber quintus (RISM P728)
Rome: Gardano, Alessandro, 1584
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#21
|
|
Attrib: Ioan. Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Motettorum quinque vocibus liber quintus (RISM P729/730)
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1588-1593
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#21
|
|
Attrib: Ioan. Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
Motettorum quinque vocibus liber quintus (RISM P729/730)
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1588-1593
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#22
|
|
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
#21
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
|
Surge speciosa
|
|
Molinaro, Simone
c.1570–after 1633
|
5 |
|
Surgit Christus cum tropheo - Dic Maria quid fecisti - Dic Maria quid fecisti
|
BVM |
Willaert, Adrian
c.1490–1562
|
4 |
Musica quatuor vocum, (quae vulgo mot... (RISM W1106)
Musica quatuor vocum, (quae vulgo motecta nuncupatur) Noviter omni studio, ac diligentia in lucem editu Liber Primus
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1539
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#25
|
|
Attrib: Adrian Vvilaert |
|
Musica quatuor vocum (motecta vulgo a... (RISM W1109)
Musica quatuor vocum (motecta vulgo appellant) nunc denuo summa diligentia recognita ac in lucem exeuntia additis etiam ab authore multis motectis qui in priori editione desiderabantur. Liber secundus
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1545
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#16
|
|
Attrib: Adriani Vvillaert |
|
|