Airs for stringed instruments by Dutch and English composers

Single Item

MS. Mus. Sch. f. 573 (Former reference: Music School A. 3. 27)

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Notebook, probably of Dutch origin, in which three hands collected airs by Dutch and English composers for stringed instruments; in some cases a second part is lacking. The first hand wrote treble airs on fol. IV, and violin music on fols. XIVv-7v; this hand numbered fols. 1-81. A second hand wrote a treble suite on fols. V-VI and one part of an allemande by Stefken for two Viole da Gamba on fol. XIII. The rest of the music was copied by the third hand. Ascriptions are rare but in some cases probably apply to a suite of pieces rather than just to the one by which they stand. Content as follows:

1 (fols. V-VI) Treble suite in G minor and B flat, copied by the second hand. The 5 movements include 'Allemand Ambsterdamb' and 'Den Haeg'.

2 (fols. VIIIv-XIIv) Ph: Hacquart. 2 suites for bass viol: Allemand, courant, saraband and gigue, in D minor [VdGS 1-4] and D major [VdGS 9-12. The latter is also in MS. Mus. Sch. f. 574, with a 'Variatio' to the courante].

3 (fol. XIII) [Theodore Steffkin]. Stefken a 2 Viole di gamba', Allemande in D minor [VdGS 18]. One part only, in the second hand.

4-5: Copied by the first hand (see fol. IV):

4 (fols. XIVv-1r) Aria in D minor 'a 2 Viol' [with bass]. All parts.

5 (fols. 1v-7v) Pieces numbered 1-23. One part only: 1-7, 'a. 2. Violin. I. O. R.'; 8, Sarabande, treble; 9-22, bass of airs (18: Sonata. Violino solo); 23, exercises.

6-12: 19 treble pieces:

6 (fols. 8-11r) 'T.B.' [Thomas Baltzar] Preludium, Allemande, Sarabande, Allemande with variatio, Courante, Sarabande [VdGS 6-11].

7-8 (fols. 11v-12v) 'Steefkens' [T. Steffkin]. Allemande [in D minor, VdGS 20] with Variation by 'Phil. Hacq:' [Philip Hacquart] on preceding Courant.

9 (fol. 13) 'J. Jenckens' [Jenkins]. Allemande and Courante.

10 (fols. 14-15) 'Dr. Colman' [Charles Coleman]. Allemande [in D minor].

11 (fol. 15v) 'Pinelle' [Germain Pinel]. Allemande.

12 (fols. 15v-16) Ph. Hacquart. Courante [x2] and Sarabande. Arranged for solo violin by T. Baltzar from Lyra viol originals (cf. VdGS Index) [VdGS 20-22]

13 (fol. 16v-17) Pieces for bass, probably one of two parts. [Fols. 17v and 18r are blank].

14-26: 36 treble viol/violin pieces:

14 (fol. 18v) J. Jenkens [Jenkins]. Allemande.

15 (fol. 18v-20v) Stefkens [T. Steffkin]. Allemande [VdGS 19], Courante, Sarabande, Courante [all in D], Allemande, Courante, Saraband, Courante [all in A]. Only the first Allemande is ascribed to Steffkin.

16 (fol. 21v) 'J. Jenck:' [Jenkins]. Allemande [and Courante(?) in E minor].

17 (fol. 22v) C. Herwick [Herwich]. Preludium and Allemande [in G major, VdGS 41-42].

18 (fol. 23-24) 'Jenkens' [J. Jenkins]. All[emande] Allemande, Courante [in G major].

19 (fol. 24-25v) 'J. Jenck' [Jenkins]. Allemande, Courante [x2], Ayr, Courante [all in B flat].

20 (fol. 26r) Jenkins. [Allemande in B minor].

21 (fols. 26v-27) Colman [C. Coleman]. Almande, Courante and Sarabande [all in G minor].

22 (fol. 27v) Colman [C. Coleman]. Allemande [in C minor].

23 (fol. 28v) D. Colman [Coleman]. Allemande [in F major].

24 (fol. 29r) Jenkins. Courante and Sarabande [both in F major].

[24a] (fols. 29v-30) Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, attributed to T. Baltzar by Gordon Dodd, Thematic Index of Music for Viols, nos. 12-14. [The first two pieces are more probably by Steffkin, VdGS 121 and 123 (cf. VdGS Index online)].

25 (fol. 30v) Youngh [W. Young?]. Almande [in A minor].

[25a] (fol. 31r) Sarabande [in A minor].

[25b] (fol. 31v) 'G.C.D.G.S.' [?]. Jigue [in G minor].

[25c] (fol. 32r) Jigue [in D minor].

26 (fols. 32v-35r) Ph. Hacquart. [Suite IV]: Allemande, Courante, Sarabande (with Variatio) and Gigue [in A minor, VdGS 13-16].

[Fols. 35v-59r are blank]

27-47 (fols. 59v-68v) Wilh. Jough [William Young]. Music for 2 bass viols (one part only), a partially numbered sequence in D major and D minor, [1-2], 3-4, [5-6], 8-21 [VdGS 1-21].

48-54 (fols. 69-72r) 'Walfardt'. Duos in various keys for bass viols, numbered 1-7 (one part only) [VdGS 1-7]. No. 1 is entitled 'Aria a 2'.

55-57 (fol. 72v-74r) [More duos (one part only)]: Allemande, Pavan; Courante; untitled piece.

[Fols. 74v to 81 are blank]

Dates

Creation: c 1700

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English
French

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Mus. Sch. f. 573, fols. 1-2].

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Shelfmark:

MS. Mus. Sch. f. 573 (Former reference: Music School A. 3. 27)

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 17384

Additional Description

Abstract

Notebook, probably of Dutch origin, in which three hands collected airs by Dutch and English composers for stringed instruments; in some cases a second part is lacking, [c 1700].

Biographical / Historical

Biographical details of the composers represented here can be found in Grove Music Online.

Other Finding Aids

Robert Hake, [Catalogue of the Music School Collection], c 1850-1855. No. CXLVIII.

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. 26595.

Viola da Gamba Society. Thematic index of music for viols [online].

Custodial History

This item is part of the Music School collection of printed and manuscript music, which was originally bequeathed to the University of Oxford by William Heather (c 1563-1627), and gradually added to until the end of the 18th century.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was transferred to the Bodleian in 1885.

Related Materials

A companion volume is at MS. Mus. Sch. f. 574.

Bibliography

Peter Holman, Life after Death: The Viola da Gamba in Britain from Purcell to Dolmetsch (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2010), p. 17.
Philip Hacquart, The complete works for solo viola da gamba, edited by François-Pierre Goy (Albany, CA: PRB Productions, 1999)

Physical Facet

Originally 8 quires of 12 within end papers. Now XIV + 82 leaves (fols. 36-58, 75-end blank). Ruling, 6 5-lined staves to a page, no marginal ruling. Vellum binding.