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The 'de Gallot' guitar books

 Single Item
MS. Mus. Sch. C. 94

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'Pieces de Guitarre de differendes auteures recueillis par Henri François de Gallot ... faict a Nantes le xviij. Septembre m vjc lxj. Par son tres humble et affectionne serviteur Monnier.'

The volume comprises two manuscripts, bound together: the larger book (fols. i-iv, 1-81a, 81b-139, mostly in tablature) contains 522 pieces for guitar, 5 songs with guitar, 7 pieces for mandore, 12 for theorboed guitar and 6 guitar trios, along with a few vocal and instrumental pieces in staff notation and some didactic material; the smaller book (fols. 140-147 and fols. v-x), contains 64 pieces for guitar.

The larger book appears to constitute the original volume, being partly a copy of a work made in 1661, the copy being written in about 1680-83, some pieces being dated 1660-80.Some composers are named, including: -- Francesco Corbetta -- Gallot d'Irlande (passim: apparently the same as H.F. de Gallot), -- Gallot d'Angleterre (fol. 24, etc.), -- Gallot cadet (fol. 29), -- Talbot (foll. 36, 86v, etc.), -- Dufault (fols. 59v, 62) -- Clement (fols. 61v, 81bv), -- 'Arkangelo' [Corelli?] (fol. 8ra).

Fols. v-x, 140-50 are additions, dated 1682-84.

Fols. ii-iii contain three French poems in praise of de Gallot.

For general divisions see fols. 27, 35, 44, 68v: there are also some rules and tips for learning to play the guitar.

The name 'Ann Wall' [c.1700?] is written on fol. 95.

Dates

  • Creation: c.1660-1684

Extent

160 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English
  • French
  • Italian

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Mus. Sch. C. 94, fols. 1-2]

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Shelfmark:

MS. Mus. Sch. C. 94

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 20654

Abstract

An anthology of 17th-century guitar pieces, chiefly preludes, allemandes, courantes, sarabandes, passacailles, etc. compiled by Henri François de Gallot.

Biographical / Historical

Henri François de Gallot (d. after 1684) was a guitarist and lutenist. For more information, see Grove Music Online.

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. V, no. 26464

Hake catalogue (c.1855) no. 64

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred to the library with the rest of the Music School collection in 1885. Previous provenance unknown.

Bibliography

  • Gill, D. 'The de Gallot guitar books', Early Music v.6, no.1 (Jan 1978), pp. 79-87.
  • Corcoron, K. A. The guitar anthology of Henry François de Gallot (1661) : a preliminary study (Masters dissertation, University of Arizona, 1988)

Physical Facet

On paper

Dimensions

14 × 9 1/8 in.

Title
Catalogue of the 'de Gallot' guitar books
Status
Published
Author
EAD version 2021 by Hannah Jordan. Revised by Martin Holmes, 2024, drawing heavily on the Early Music article by Donald Gill.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
Second edition.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom