Tenor part book of works by British and Continental composers [manuscript], ca. 1620-1630.

Tenor part book of works by British and Continental composers [manuscript], ca. 1620-1630.

Folger card catalog title: Commonplace book of English madrigals and sacred motets, for four, five and six voices, [ca. 1610]

1 ms. part book ; 12 x 23 cm (Obl. 8 vo.)

Tenor part-book with a collection of English and "englished" Italian madrigals, Latin settings, instrumental fantasias, English sacred works, anthems and motets by British and Continental composers, for four, five and six voices; copied in the early seventeenth century by Benjamin Cosyn (ca. 1580-1653). A few of the songs are anonymous, but many of them are attributed by the copyist to Bateson, Byrd, Croce, Dering, Monteverdi, Lupo, Simes, Marenzio, Morley, Weelkes and Wilbye as well as 5 settings of texts based on 2 Samuel. Most vocal works include text underlay.

In English, Latin and Italian.

72 p. Pages 13-16, 46-52, 60-72 blank. Page 3 folds out. A single leaf from an altus part-book, previously laid-in, has been tipped-in at p. 60.

Songs listed in the Folger index of first lines of poems.

Lacking cantus, altus, bassus, quintus and sectus part books.

Spine title: Elizabethian songs ms c1609

According to "Noyses, sounds, and sweet aires": "The manuscripts, which probably date from ca. 1620-1630, may have been used at Dulwich College or Charterhouse, where Cosyn served as organist"

Slip of paper formerly with manuscript gave the incorrect assertion about the identity of the copyist and date stated: "Tenor part of some Madrigals in the hand-writing of Thomas Weelkes, ca. 1580"

This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It contains unverified data from catalog cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.

Benjamin Cosyn, English composer and organist.

Formerly Folger MS 411027.

Purchased in 1941from the Rosenbach Company in Philadelphia and New York, catalogue no. 45, lot 794.

Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2006. "Noyses, sounds, and sweet aires" (catalog entry 106)

Charteris, R. Annotated catalogue of the music manuscripts in the Folger, 96

V.a.412

F.10.27.41