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 |
Affer opem miserate Deus - At Dominus planctus miserorum - Polliciti memor ergo
|
|
Servin, Jean
c.1530–after 1595
|
6 |
|
Afferte Domino gloriam
|
Easter IV |
Capilupi, Geminiani
1573–1616
|
8 |
|
Afflicti pro peccatis nostris
|
|
Stivori, Francesco
c.1550–1605
|
5 |
|
Afflicti pro peccatis nostris
|
|
Rondini, Crisostomo
|
6 |
|
Afflicti pro peccatis nostris - Ut eruas nos amalis
David Fraser (ATTBarBB)
|
|
Byrd, William
c.1540–1623
|
6 |
|
Afflictus sum et humiliatus
|
|
Waelrant, Hubert
c.1517–1595
|
5 |
Sacrarum cantionum (vulgo hodie motet... (RISM 1556/7)
Sacrarum cantionum (vulgo hodie moteta vocant) quinque & sex vocum, ad veram harmoniam concentiumque ab optimis quibusque musicis, in philomusorum gratiam compositarum. Liber quintus
Antwerp: Waelrant, Hubert and Laet, Jean de, c.1556
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#3
|
|
Attrib: Vuaelrant |
|
|
Afflictus sum et humiliatus
|
|
Coclico, Adrianus Petit
1499/1500–1562
|
4 |
Musica reservata consolationes piae e... (RISM C3258)
Musica reservata consolationes piae ex psalmis Davidicis ornatae suavissimis concentibus musicis, a peritissimo musico Adriano Petit Coclico Discipulo Iosquini de Pratis. Cantionum quatuor vocum
Nuremberg: Berg, Johann, 1552
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Adriano Petit Coclico |
|
|
Afflictus sum et humiliatus - Et factus sum sicut homo
|
|
Castro, Jean de
c.1540-1545–c.1600
|
5 |
|
Afflictus sum et humiliatus - Ne derelinquas me Domine
|
|
Ferrabosco, Alfonso (i)
1543–1588
|
6 |
(GB-Ob Tenbury 389)
Oxford, c.1580-1610
(Partbook, MS)
#29
|
|
Attrib: Alfonsus |
|
McGhie MS (GB-DORmcghie)
Wimborne, c.1595-c.1613
(Partbook, MS)
#29
|
|
Attrib: Alfon: |
|
Sambrook book (US-NYp Drexel 4302)
London: Tregian, Francis (ii), 1613-1619
(Score, MS)
RISM
#61
|
|
Attrib: Alfonso Ferabosco Sen |
|
|
Afflictus sum et humiliatus - Tu es refugium meum
|
|
Cadéac, Pierre
fl.1538–1558
|
4 |
|
Affliger chi per voi - Nulla da voi
|
|
Marenzio, Luca
1553/1554–1599
|
4 |
|
Afflitti spirti miei non sperate
|
|
Verdelot, Philippe
c.1480-1485–?1530/1532
|
4 |
Del primo libro de Madrigali di Verde... (RISM 1533/2)
Del primo libro de Madrigali di Verdelotto
Venice: Antico, Andrea, 1533
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#11
|
|
Attrib: Verdelot |
|
Il primo libro de Madrigali di Verdel... (RISM V1219 (1537/9))
Il primo libro de Madrigali di Verdelotto. Novamente stampato, et con somma diligentia corretto
Venice: Scotto, Ottavio, 1537
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#11
|
|
Attrib: Verdelot |
|
Di Verdelot tutti li madrigali del pr... (RISM 1556/27 (V1235))
Di Verdelot tutti li madrigali del primo & del secondo libro a quattro voci, nuovamente ristampati & con somma diligentia corretti
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1556
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#26
|
|
Attrib: Verdelot |
|
|
Afraid alas and why so suddenly
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
A Galliard to Lachrimae
|
|
Dowland, John
1563–1626
|
1 |
|
Agathes laetissima - Domine quid me fecisti
|
St Agatha |
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
4 |
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
#123
|
|
Attrib: Leonartum Pamingerum |
|
|
Agidi Monachorum optime
|
|
Ballestra, Reimundo
d.1634
|
7 |
Sacrae symphoniae ... septem, octo, d... (RISM B769)
Sacrae symphoniae ... septem, octo, decem, duodecim vocibus, liber primus, editio nova
Venice: Gardano, Angelo, 1611
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#2
|
|
Attrib: Reimvndi Ballestrae |
St Aegidio |
|
Agimus tibi gratias
Pothárn Imre
|
Grace |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
3 |
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
#46
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Agimus tibi gratias
|
Grace |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
6 |
Cantionum, quas mutetas vocant, opus ... (RISM L857)
Cantionum, quas mutetas vocant, opus novum Prima Pars
Munich: Berg, Adam, 1573
(Choirbook, Print)
RISM
#21
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi 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
#355
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Agimus tibi gratias
Pothárn Imre
|
Grace |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
4 |
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
#74
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Agimus tibi gratias
Pothárn Imre
|
Grace |
Rore, Cipriano de
1515/1516–1565
|
5 |
(D-Mbs B(1)
Munich: Pollet, Jean, 1559
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#12
|
|
Attrib: Cyprianus de Rore |
|
Harmoniae miscellae cantionum sacraru... (RISM 1583/2)
Harmoniae miscellae cantionum sacrarum, ab exquisitissimis aetatis nostrae musicis cum quinque & sex vocibus concinnatae, pleraeque omnes novae, necdum in Germania typis scriptae: nunc autem editae studio Leonardi Lechneri Athesini
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina, 1583
(Partbook, Print)
#3
|
|
Attrib: Cyprianus de Rore |
|
|
Agimus tibi gratias
|
Grace |
Ugolini, Vincenzo
c.1580–1638
|
6 |
|
Agimus tibi gratias
|
Grace |
Ingegneri, Marco Antonio
c.1535–1592
|
4 |
|
Agimus tibi gratias
|
Grace |
Metallo, Grammatio
c.1540–after 1615
|
3 |
|
Agimus tibi gratias [I]
Pothárn Imre
|
Grace |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
5 |
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
#188
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Agimus tibi gratias [II]
Pothárn Imre
|
Grace |
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
5 |
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
#48
|
|
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
#189
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|