De Organographia

Michael Praetorius (c. 1571/72 – 1571) was a German composer, organist, court music director, and music theorist
In De Organographia, he classifies and describes various instruments of his time with a particular focus on the organ
The accompanying picture section, the Theatrum Instrumentorum, comprises the oldest known depiction of the African string instrument Pluriarc

De Organographia

Description

De Organographia

With his Syntagma Musicum, German composer, organist, court music director, and music theorist Michael Praetorius (ca. 1571/72–1571) created one of the most important works on music theory and performance practice of the early modern period. The series consists of three volumes, the second of which is particularly fascinating. In De Organographia, Praetorius classifies and describes various instruments of his time. He pays particular attention to the organ, which he describes as the “instrument of instruments” and which he also played himself. He devotes two of the four chapters to the instrument and its history. A year after the publication of the treatise, Praetorius had the famous Theatrum Instrumentorum printed as a supplement and fifth chapter or picture section. It comprises 44 copperplate plates showing the instruments described by Praetorius, including the oldest known depiction of a pluriarc. Together, De Organographia and the Theatrum Instrumentorum are now one of the most important sources on Renaissance and Baroque instruments and are of crucial relevance for their reconstruction.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: De Organographia. Zweiter Teil des Syntagma musicum. Wolfenbüttel 1619.
Michael Praetorius: Syntagma musicum II. De Organographia.
De Organographia - Instrumentenkunde
Theatrum Instrumentorum
Type: Printed book on paper
Origin: Germany
Date: 1619 and 1620
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Baroque
Genre: Music
Language: German
Latin
Illustrations: 44 full-page illustrations, numerous decorated initials and vignettes
Content: Volume 2 of the Syntagma musicum by Michael Praetorius
Artist / School: Michael Praetorius

Available facsimile editions:

Facsimile Editions

#1 De Organographia. Zweiter Teil des Syntagma musicum. Wolfenbüttel 1619.

Bärenreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 1929

De Organographia. Zweiter Teil des Syntagma musicum. Wolfenbüttel 1619. Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: Bärenreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 1929

Commentary: 1 volume by Wilibald Gurlitt
Language: German

1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding. The facsimile edition also includes the Theatrum Instrumentorum from 1620 as an appendix.

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De Organographia