Codex Turin J.II.9

Plainchant, polyphonic mass movements, motets, and polyphonic chansons are all found in this splendid songbook
It is the sole source dateable to the early-15th century that is devoted exclusively to French music
Music from the court of King Janus of Cyprus (1375–1432) and Charlotte de Bourbon (1388–1422) is also included

Codex Turin J.II.9

cod. J.II.9 Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria di Torino (Turin, Italy)

Description

Codex Turin J.II.9

Europe was undergoing a musical revolution in the Late Middle Ages, particularly in France and the Burgundian Low Countries. Nonetheless, this is the sole manuscript from the period dedicated purely to French music, as well as the largest of the period. This large tome is a priceless source for the history of European music.

Codex Turin J.II.9

This collection of plainchant, polyphonic mass movements, motets, and polyphonic chansons represents the sole source dateable to the early–15th century that is devoted exclusively to French music. The codex is also the largest corpus of French music from the period and contains music from the court of King Janus of Cyprus (1375–1432), who also titular King of Armenian Cilicia and Jerusalem from 1398–1432, and his second wife Charlotte de Bourbon (1388–1422). The manuscript also contains one of the oldest masses of a cantus firmus composed outside the British Isles, which was presumably copied in the area of Savoy. As such, these 334 compositions are of fundamental importance for the study of early–15th century music.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Codice J.II.9
Codex J.II.9
MS J.II.9 “Cypriot-French”
Cypriot-French Manuscript of Polyphony
Cypriot Plainchant
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 318 pages / 37.5 × 27.0 cm
Origin: Italy
Date: Early 15th century
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Gothic
Genre: Music
Other Liturgical Manuscripts
Language: Latin
French
Script: Gothic Textura, Gothic cursive
Illustrations: 1 miniature of St. Hylarion (fol. 1); floral and ornamental border decorations; blue and red initials on gold; fleuronné initials
Content: Polyphony
Patron: Bagarotti family (?)
Charlotte of Bourbon (?)
Previous Owners: Anne de Lusignan (?)

Available facsimile editions:

Facsimile Editions

#1 Il Codice J.II.9

Libreria Musicale Italiana – Lucca, 1999

Publisher: Libreria Musicale Italiana – Lucca, 1999

Commentary: 1 volume by Isabella Data and Karl Kügle
Languages: English, Italian

1 volume: This facsimile is not complete. Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The pages are presented on a larger white background. The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.

Facsimile Copy Available!

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