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 |
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Recedentibus discipulis
|
Easter |
Riccio, Teodore
c.1540–c.1600
|
6 |
Sacrae cantiones, quas vulgo motesta ... (RISM R1286)
Sacrae cantiones, quas vulgo motesta vocant, quinque, sex, et octo vocum, tum viva voca, tum etiam omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Katharina and Gerlach, Dietrich, 1576
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#16
|
|
Attrib: Theodoro Riccio Brixiano |
|
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Recedentibus discipulis
|
Easter |
Pionnier, Joannes
d.1573
|
5 |
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Recedentibus discipulis
|
Easter |
Utendal, Alexander
c.1530-1540–1581
|
5 |
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Recedentibus discipulis
|
Easter |
Buus, Jacques
c.1500–1565
|
4 |
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Recedentibus omnibus
|
Easter |
Contino, Giovanni
c.1513–1574
|
6 |
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum
Pothárn Imre (SSATTB)
|
|
Lassus, Orlande de
c.1532–1594
|
6 |
(D-Mbs 20)
Munich: Mayr, Hanns, c.1550-c.1570
(Choirbook, MS)
RISM
#19
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Sacrae cantiones (vulgo motecta appel... (RISM L796)
Sacrae cantiones (vulgo motecta appellatae) sex et octo vocum, tum viva voce, tum omnis generis instrumentis cantatu commodissimae. Liber quartus.
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1566
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#6
|
|
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
#13
|
|
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
#16
|
|
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
#338
|
|
Attrib: Orlandi de Lasso |
|
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum
|
|
Manchicourt, Pierre de
c.1510–1564
|
5 |
Liber decimus quartus. xix. musicas c... (RISM M269)
Liber decimus quartus. xix. musicas cantiones continet
Paris: Jullet, Herbert and Attaingnant, Pierre, 1539
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#3
|
|
Attrib: P. de Manchicourt |
|
Liber XIIII ecclesiasticarum cantionu... (RISM 1553/16)
Liber XIIII ecclesiasticarum cantionum quinque vocum vulgo moteta vocant, tam ex Veteri quam ex Nouo Testamento, ab potimis quibusque huius aetatis Musicis compositarum. De vno tono antea nunquam excusus
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1553
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#4
|
|
Attrib: Pe. Manchicourt |
|
Liber XIIII ecclesiasticarum cantionu... (RISM 1558/3)
Liber XIIII ecclesiasticarum cantionum quinque vocum vulgo moteta vocant, tam ex Veteri quam ex Nouo Testamento, ab potimis quibusque huius aetatis Musicis compositarum. De vno tono antea nunquam excusus
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1557
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#4
|
|
Attrib: Pe. Manchicourt |
|
Liber XIIII ecclesiasticarum cantionu... (RISM 1557/4)
Liber XIIII ecclesiasticarum cantionum quinque vocum vulgo moteta vocant, tam ex Veteri quam ex Nouo Testamento, ab potimis quibusque huius aetatis Musicis compositarum. De vno tono antea nunquam excusus
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1557
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#4
|
|
Attrib: Pe. Manchicourt |
|
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum
|
|
Conflicting attributions
|
5 |
Liber tertius cantionum sacrarum vulg... (RISM 1554/3)
Liber tertius cantionum sacrarum vulgo moteta vocant, quinque et sex vocum
Lyon: Phalèse the Elder, Pierre, 1554
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#9
|
|
Attrib: Crequillon |
|
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
#33
|
|
Attrib: Thomas Crecquillon |
|
Quartus liber modulorum, quatuor, qui... (RISM 1555/14)
Quartus liber modulorum, quatuor, quinque et sex vocum, (quos vulgus moteta vocat) à quibusvis celeberrimis authoribus excerptus, & nunc primùm in lucem aeditus.
[Geneva]: Du Bosc, Simon and Guéroult, Guillaume, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#2
|
|
Attrib: T. Crecquillon |
|
Liber undecimus ecclesiasticarum cant... (RISM 1555/9)
Liber undecimus ecclesiasticarum cantionum quinque vocum
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1555
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#2
|
|
Attrib: Christianus Hollandre |
|
Tertivs liber modulorum, qvatuor et q... (RISM 1559/4)
Tertivs liber modulorum, qvatuor et qvinqve vocum, (quos vulgus Motteta vocat) a quibusuis celeberrimis authoribus excerptus
Geneva: Sylvius, Michael, c.1559
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#1
|
|
Attrib: Crequillon |
|
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
Quatuor vocum musicae modulationes nu... (RISM 1542/7)
Quatuor vocum musicae modulationes numero XXVI ex optimis autoribus diligenter selectae
Antwerp: Vissenaecken, Willem van, 1542
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#1
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Liber primus sacrarum cantionum quinq... (RISM 1546/6)
Liber primus sacrarum cantionum quinque vocum vulgo moteta vocant, ex optimis quibusque huius aetatis musicis selecta
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1546
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#12
|
|
Attrib: Incertus author |
G-Lbl copy: Pages from 1547/6 bound into tenor book. |
Liber quartus sacrarum cantionum quat... (RISM 1547/6)
Liber quartus sacrarum cantionum quatuor vocum
Antwerp: Susato, Tylman, 1547
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#19
|
|
Attrib: Incertus author |
|
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum
|
|
Conflicting attributions
|
4 |
(A-Wn 18825)
Alamire, Pierre, c.1515-1534
(Partbook, MS)
#8
|
|
Attrib: Jo. Lebrun |
|
Rusconi Codex (I-Bc Q.19)
Bologna, c.1518
(Choirbook, MS)
#47
|
|
Attrib: Ricaforte |
|
Novum et insigne opus musicum, sex, q... (RISM 1537/1)
Novum et insigne opus musicum, sex, quinque, et autuor vocum, cuius in Germania hactenus nihil simile usquam est editum
Nuremberg: Formschneider, Hieronymus and Ott, Hans, 1537
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#52
|
|
Attrib: Iosquin |
|
Chansonnier de Zeghere van Male (F-CA 125-8)
Cambrai, 1542
(Partbook, MS)
#113
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
Electiones diversorum motetorum disti... (RISM 1549/12)
Electiones diversorum motetorum distincte quatuor vocibus
Venice: Gardano, Antonio, 1549
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
|
(D-Dl Mus.Gri.54)
Dresden, c.1590
(Partbook, MS)
RISM
#13
|
|
Attrib: Josquinus |
|
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum
|
|
Colin, Pierre
fl.1538–1572
|
5 |
|
Congratulamini mihi omnes ... quia quem quaerebam - Tulerunt Dominum meum mihi omnes
|
|
Heurteur, Guillaume le
fl.1530–1545
|
5 |
Liber tertius: viginti musicales quin... (RISM 1534/5)
Liber tertius: viginti musicales quinque, sex, vel octo vocum motetos habet
Paris: Attaingnant, Pierre, 1534
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#12
|
|
Attrib: G. le heurteur |
|
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
#7
|
|
Attrib: Guillermi le heurteur |
|
|
Congratulamini nunc omnes in Deo
|
|
Anon
|
5 |
|
Congratulamini nunc omnes in Deo
|
|
Zangius, Nikolaus
c.1570–c.1618
|
6 |
|
Congratulamini omnes in Domino diem beati Roche
|
St Roch |
Vecchi, Orazio
1550–1605
|
8 |
|
Congratulamini omnes in Domino diem Beati Rochi
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
(D-Ju 33)
Jena, c.1500-c.1520
(Choirbook, MS)
#1
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
Introit for St Roche |
|
Congratulamini videte omnes
|
|
Striggio, Alessandro (i)
c.1536-1537–1592
Molinaro, Simone
c.1570–after 1633
|
6 |
|
Congrega Domine - Afflige opprimentes
Pothárn Imre
|
|
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
c.1525–1594
|
5 |
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
#6
|
|
Attrib: Iohannis Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
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
#6
|
|
Attrib: Iohannis Petraloysii Praenestini |
|
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
#6
|
|
Attrib: Ioan: Petri Aloysii Praenestini |
|
|
Congregatae sunt gentes
|
|
Paminger, Leonhard
1495–1567
|
4 |
Tertius tomus ecclesiasticarum cantio... (RISM P830)
Tertius tomus ecclesiasticarum cantionum, quatuor, quinque, sex, et plurium vocum, a prima dominica post festum S. Trrinitatis, usque ad primam Dominicam Adventus Domini et Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi. His commune de Sanctis Ecclesiae Dei, et quaedam Fragmenta ex canticis Canticorum salomonis, accesserunt.
Nuremberg: Gerlach, Dietrich and Gerlach, Katharina, 1576
(Partbook, Print)
RISM
#83
|
|
Attrib: Leonarto Pamingero |
|
|
Congregatae sunt gentes - Tu scis quae cogitant
|
|
Mouton, Jean
before 1459–1522
|
4 |
|
Congregatae sunt gentes - Tu scis quae cogitant
|
|
Porta, Costanzo
c.1528–1601
|
5 |
|
Congregatae sunt gentes - Tu scis quae cogitant
|
|
Anon
|
4 |
|
Congregatae sunt gentes - Tu scis quae cogitant in nos
|
|
Phinot, Dominique
c.1510–c.1556
|
5 |
|
Congregatis Pharisaeis - Si ergo David
|
|
Burck, Joachim a
1546–1610
|
6 |
|
Congregati sunt gentes
|
|
Anon
|
5 |
Thematic catalogue. MS destroyed in 1944 (I-TVd 4)
Treviso: d'Alessi, Giovanni, 1559-1569
(Choirbook, MS)
#71
|
|
Attrib: Anon |
Thematic catalogue, first phrase only |
|