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 |
Ad te Domine clamantes
|
|
Vulpius, Melchior
c.1570–1615
|
6 |
|
Ad te Domine de luce vigilat
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(P-Cug 70)
Coimbra, after 1570
(Partbook, MS)
#80
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
|
Ad te Domine levavi
octavi toni
|
|
Bacilieri, Giovanni
c.1580–after 1619
|
5 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
Francis Bevan (SAT)
Francis Bevan (ATB)
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Asola, Giovanni Matteo
c.1532–1609
|
3 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
Pothárn Imre
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Regnart, Jacob
1540-1545–1599
|
5 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Monte, Philippe de
1521–1603
|
8 |
Sacrarum cantionum cum quinque vocibu... (RISM M3313)
Sacrarum cantionum cum quinque vocibus quae vulgo motetta nuncupantur Liber Tertius
Venice: Scotto, Girolamo, 1574
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#18
|
|
Attrib: Philippi de Monte |
Canon: Misericordia & veritas Obviaverunt sibi. Justitia & pax Osculate sunt. |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Rossi, Giovanni Maria
c.1522–1590
|
5 |
Mottetti di Giovanni Maria Rosso maes... (RISM R2769)
Mottetti di Giovanni Maria Rosso maestro del Duomo di Mantova; nuovamente dati in luce et corretti da Claudio da Correggio, a cinque voci, libro primo
Venice: Merulo, Claudio, 1567
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#11
|
|
Attrib: Giovanni Maria Rosso |
|
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
India, Sigismondo d'
c.1582–1629
|
4 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Stivori, Francesco
c.1550–1605
|
5 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Boschetti, Giovanni
d.1622
|
2 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Rossetto, Stefano
fl.1560–1580
|
5 |
Novae quaedam sacrae cantiones, quas ... (RISM R2730)
Novae quaedam sacrae cantiones, quas vulgo motetas vocant, quinque et sex vocum, ita compositae, ut ad omnis generis instrumenta attemperari possint
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich, 1573
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#10
|
|
Attrib: Stephano Roseto |
|
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
sexti toni
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Viadana, Lodovico
c.1540-1560–1627
|
4 |
Officium defunctorum omnia quae music... (RISM V1357)
Officium defunctorum omnia quae musico modulamine in exequiis defunctorum recitari possunt complectens quatuor paribus vocibus decantandum nunc primum ita musice dispositum, & in lucem editum
Venice: Vincenti, Giacomo, 1600
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Lvdovico Viadana |
|
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Bonizzi, Vincenzo
d.1630
|
7 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam - Custodi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X), Ordinary Time 21 (post Pentecost XV) |
Felis, Stefano
c.1550–1603
|
5 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam - Dulcis et rectus Dominus - Respice in me
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X), Sacred Heart |
Anon
|
4 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam - Neque irrideant inimici mei
|
Advent I, Lent III, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Tubal, Adrian
fl.1553–1556
|
5 |
Sacrarum cantionum (vulgo hodie motet... (RISM 1554/6)
Sacrarum cantionum (vulgo hodie moteta vocant) quinque et sex vocum ad veram harmoniam concentumque ab optimis quibusque musicis in philomusorum gratiam compositarum. Liber primus.
Antwerp: Laet, Jean de and Waelrant, Hubert, 1554
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#8
|
|
Attrib: A. Tubal |
|
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam - Reminiscere miserationum
|
Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X), Advent I, Lent II |
Monte, Philippe de
1521–1603
|
5 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam - Reminiscere miserationum
|
Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X), Advent I, Lent II |
Sermisy, Claudin de
c.1490–1562
|
4 |
Liber cantus (vocum quatuor) triginta... (RISM 1538/5)
Liber cantus (vocum quatuor) triginta novem motetos habet, ut in sequenti indice demonstratur
Ferrara: Buglhat, Johannes de, Campis, Henrici de, and Hucher, Antonio, 1538
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#19
|
|
Attrib: Claudin |
|
Tomus tertius psalmorum selectorum qu... (RISM 1542/6)
Tomus tertius psalmorum selectorum quatuor & quinque, & quidam plurium vocum
Nuremberg: Petreius, Johann, 1542
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#17
|
|
Attrib: Claudin |
|
Psalmorum selectorum a praestantissim... (RISM 1553/4)
Psalmorum selectorum a praestantissimis huius nostri temporis in arte musca artificibus...
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann and Neuber, Ulrich, 1553
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#18
|
|
Attrib: Claudin |
Psalm 24 |
|
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam - Vias tuas Domine
Pothárn Imre (SATTB)
|
Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X), Advent I, Lent II |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
5 |
(D-Mbs 20)
Munich: Mayr, Hanns, c.1550-c.1570
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Liber decimus quintus ecclesiasticaru... (RISM L763)
Liber decimus quintus ecclesiasticarum cantionum vulgo moteta vocant... quinque et sex vocum, ex omnibus tonis
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1560
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#7
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi di Lassus |
|
(D-AN VI g 14)
Ansbach, 1565
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#27
|
|
Attrib: Orlandus |
|
Sacrae cantiones (vulgo motecta appel... (RISM L795)
Sacrae cantiones (vulgo motecta appellatae) quinque, et sex vocum, tum viva voce tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae, liber tertius
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1566
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi Lassi |
|
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
#4
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lassus |
|
Tertius liber modulorum quinis vocibu... (RISM L859)
Tertius liber modulorum quinis vocibus constantium
Paris: Ballard, Robert (i) and Le Roy, Adrian, 1573
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#23
|
|
Attrib: Orlando Lassvsio |
|
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
#7
|
|
Attrib: Orlandum di Lassus |
|
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
#282
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Ad te Domine preces nostras
|
|
Willaert, Adrian
c.1490–1562
|
4 |
|
Ad te dulcissime Jesu
|
|
Verrijt, Jan Baptist
c.1605–1650
|
3 |
|
Ad te levavi animam meam
Francis Bevan (SSATTB)
Pothárn Imre
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
6 |
Mottetta, sex vocum, typis nondum usp... (RISM L939)
Mottetta, sex vocum, typis nondum uspiam excusa: singulari authoris industria iampridem composita, et praelo submissa
Munich: Berg, Adam, 1582
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#15
|
|
Attrib: Orlando de Lasso |
|
Tertium opus musicum, continens Lecti... (RISM 1588/8)
Tertium opus musicum, continens Lectiones Hiobet motectas seu cantiones sacras, quatuor, quinque et sex vocum, antea quidem tribus fasciculis seorsim excusas, nunc vero in volumen unum redactas
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina, 1588
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#53
|
|
Attrib: Orlando de Lasso |
|
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
#448
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Ad te levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Asola, Giovanni Matteo
c.1532–1609
|
4 |
Introitus in dominicus diebus totius ... (RISM A2598)
Introitus in dominicus diebus totius anni et ad aspersionem aque benedicte. Videlicet, Asperges me, & Vidi aquam egredientem. Musica suer cantu plano restituto quatuor vocibus
Venice: Amadino, Ricciardo, 1598
(Choirbook, Print)
RISM
#3
|
|
Attrib: Io: Matthaeo Asula Veronensi |
|
Introitus (D-Mbs 81)
1650-1699
(Choirbook, MS)
#1
|
|
Attrib: Matthao Asula Veronensi |
|
|
Ad te levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Cardilli, Jacopo Antonio
fl.1579–1586
|
5 |
|
Ad te levavi animam meam
|
Advent I, Ordinary Time 15 (post Pentecost X) |
Amon, Blasius
c.1560–1590
|
4 |
Introitus dominicales per totum annum... (RISM A945)
Introitus dominicales per totum annum, secundum ritum ecclesiae catholicae, suavitate et brevitate quatuor vocibus exculti, tam utiles quam necessarii
Vienna: Formica, Leonhard, 1601
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#5
|
|
Attrib: F. Blasio Amon Tyrolensi |
|
|