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 |
Tu quia Pieridum
|
|
Meiland, Jacob
1542–1577
|
6 |
Cantiones sacrae quinque et sex vocum... (RISM M2173)
Cantiones sacrae quinque et sex vocum harmonicis numeris in gratiam musicorum compositae et iam, primum in lucem editae
Nuremberg: Neuber, Ulrich and Berg, Johann, 1564
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Iacobo Meilando |
|
Cantiones sacrae quinque et sex vocum... (RISM M2176)
Cantiones sacrae quinque et sex vocum, harmonicis numeris in gratiam musicorum compositae, & iam denuo auctiores multumquae quam antea correctiores in lucem editae
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich, 1573
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Iacobo Meilando |
|
|
Tu qui coniugii - Atque thori socius
|
|
Riccio, Teodore
c.1540–c.1600
|
6 |
(D-AN VI g 20)
c.1550-1599
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#14
|
|
Attrib: Theodorus Riccius |
missing last page |
Secundus liber sacrarum cantionum, qu... (RISM R1289)
Secundus liber sacrarum cantionum, quas vulgo motectas appellant: quinque, sex, octo et duodecim vocibus compositarum: quae tam vivae voci, quam omnibus instrumentis sunt accomodatae
Königsberg: Osterberger, Georg, 1580
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#18
|
|
Attrib: Theodoro Riccio Brixiano |
|
|
Turbae quae praecedebant
|
|
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
#1
|
|
Attrib: Philippo Dulichio |
Dominica 1 Adventus |
|
Turbae quae praecedebant
|
|
Cardoso, Manuel
1566–1650
|
5 |
Livro de varios motetes, officio da s... (RISM C1042)
Livro de varios motetes, officio da semana santa e outras cousas
Lisbon: Craesbeeck, Laurenco, 1648
(Choirbook, Print)
RISM
#20
|
|
Attrib: Fr. Manoel Cardoso |
|
|
Turba multa quae convenerat ad diem festum
|
|
Matelart, Joanne
before 1538–1607
|
4 |
|
Turn about and see me
|
|
Mundy, John
c.1555–1630
|
3 |
|
Turn our captivity O Lord
David Fraser (AATTBB)
The Monteverdi Choir
|
|
Byrd, William
c.1540–1623
|
6 |
Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets: some sol... (RISM B5221)
Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets: some solemne, others joyfull, framed to the life of the Words: Fit for Voyces or Viols of 3. 4. 5. and 6. Parts
London: Barley, William and Snodham, Thomas, 1611
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#28
|
|
Attrib: William Byrd |
|
|
Turn thee unto me
|
(Verse anthem) |
Anon
|
4 |
(GB-WO A.3.3)
Worcester, c.1660-c.1700
(Partbook/score, MS)
#47
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Turn thou thy face, O Lord
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(GB-WO A.3.3)
Worcester, c.1660-c.1700
(Partbook/score, MS)
#166
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
fragment |
|
Turn thou us O good Lord
|
|
Caustun, Thomas
c.1520-1525–1569
|
4 |
Mornyng and Evenyng prayer and Commun... (RISM 1565/4)
Mornyng and Evenyng prayer and Communion, set forthe in foure partes, to be song in churches, both for men and children, wyth dyvers other godly prayers & Anthems, of sundry mens doynges
London: Day, John, 1565
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#34
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Caustun |
|
|
Turn thou us O good Lord
|
|
Child, William
1606/1607–1697
|
5 |
(GB-Cpc 6.1-6)
c.1625-1644
(Partbook, MS)
#48
|
|
Attrib: Mr Child |
|
|
Turn thou us, O good Lord
|
(Verse anthem) |
Batten, Adrian
1591–1637
|
5 |
Dunnington-Jefferson Manuscript (GB-Ym M29S)
c.1632
(Partbook, MS)
#132
|
|
Attrib: Mr Adrian Batten |
|
(GB-DRc C1)
Durham, c.1660
(Partbook, MS)
#71
|
|
Attrib: Mr Batten |
Ash Wednesday |
|
Turn thou us, O good Lord
|
(Verse anthem) |
Tomkins, John
1586–1638
|
5 |
(GB-DRc C1)
Durham, c.1660
(Partbook, MS)
#75
|
|
Attrib: mr Jo Tomkins |
Good Friday |
|
Turn thou us, O good Lord [I]
|
(Verse anthem) |
Tomkins, Thomas
1572–1656
|
6 |
Dunnington-Jefferson Manuscript (GB-Ym M29S)
c.1632
(Partbook, MS)
#131
|
|
Attrib: Mr Thomas tomkins |
|
Musica Deo Sacra & Ecclesiae Anglican... (RISM T950)
Musica Deo Sacra & Ecclesiae Anglicanae: or, Musick dedicated to the honor and service of God, and to the use of Cathedral and other Churches of England, especially of the Chappel-Royal of King Charles the First.
London: Godbid, William, 1668
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#19
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Tomkins |
The last collect in the Commination |
|
Turn thou us O good Lord [II]
|
|
Tomkins, Thomas
1572–1656
|
4 |
Musica Deo Sacra & Ecclesiae Anglican... (RISM T950)
Musica Deo Sacra & Ecclesiae Anglicanae: or, Musick dedicated to the honor and service of God, and to the use of Cathedral and other Churches of England, especially of the Chappel-Royal of King Charles the First.
London: Godbid, William, 1668
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#23
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Tomkins |
The last collect in the Commination |
|
Turn thy face from my wickedness O Lord - Give me the comfort of thy help
|
|
East, Michael
c.1580–1648
|
6 |
The Third Set of Bookes: Wherein are ... (RISM E6)
The Third Set of Bookes: Wherein are Pastorals, Anthemes, Neopolitanes, Fancies, and Madrigales, to 5. and 6. parts: Apt both for Viols and Voyces.
London: Snodham, Thomas, 1610
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Michaell Easte |
|
|
Turn unto the Lord
|
|
Tomkins, Thomas
1572–1656
|
6 |
|
Turn us again
|
(Verse anthem) |
Blow, John
1649–1708
|
4 |
(GB-WO A.3.3)
Worcester, c.1660-c.1700
(Partbook/score, MS)
#215
|
|
Attrib: Dr Blow |
|
|
Turpe referre pedem
|
|
Handl, Jacob (Gallus)
1550–1591
|
5 |
|
Turpe sequi casum
|
|
Handl, Jacob (Gallus)
1550–1591
|
6 |
|
Tu sai Madonna mia
|
|
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
4 |
Le quatoirsiesme livre a quatre parti... (RISM 1555/19)
Le quatoirsiesme livre a quatre parties contenant dixhuyct chansons italiennes, six chansons francoises, & six motetz faictz (a la nouvelle composition d'aucuns d'Italie) par Rolando di Lassus nouvellement imprimé...
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Rolando di Lassus |
|
Second livre des chansons a quatre et... (RISM 1570/6)
Second livre des chansons a quatre et cincq parties, composées par Orlando di Lassus, Cyprian de Rore, & Philippe de Mons, De nouveau corrigées & emendées, Convenables tant aux Instrumens comme à la Voix
Leuven: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1570
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#2
|
|
Attrib: Orlando di Lassus |
|
|
Tu segui ò bella Clori
|
|
Gesualdo, Carlo
1566–1613
|
5 |
|
Tu sei foco
|
|
Anerio, Giovanni Francesco
c.1567–1630
|
2 |
|
Tu sei suave fiume
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
5 |
|
Tu septiformis munere
|
|
Willaert, Adrian
c.1490–1562
|
3 |
|