The polyphonic introits of 'Trento, archivio capitolare, MS 93': A stylistic analysis.

摘要

Trent 93, the most recently discovered of the Trent Codices (a large and well-preserved source of fifteenth-century sacred polyphony) contains a lengthy grouping of polyphonic settings of introits, the first item in the Proper of the Mass. The scope of this collection is unprecedented, and is not approached again until the sixteenth century (in collections such as the Jena choirbook, and Heinrich Isaac's Choralis constantinus). Why were these pieces copied? Were they ever performed in Trent, and if so, in what particular circumstances? This thesis is an exploration of the cultural and ecclesiastical context of the Trent 93 introits, in combination with a survey of their liturgical placement, and an analysis of their stylistic characteristics, in the hope that such a study will help to unravel some of these problems.;Chapter One of this thesis sets the geographical and liturgical context for the stylistic study and outlines the current scholarly situation regarding the Trent codices and their importance in the repertory, including relevant paleographical and analytical studies. Also included are some known facts (and some speculation), about the scribal activity in mid fifteenth-century Trent and the possible routes by which the music of the codices found its way to this northern Italian town. Chapter Two surveys the introits in Tr93 according to their liturgical function and the copying plan of the scribes. Chapter Three, the essence the thesis, discusses the introit as a musical genre, and examines the various stylistic characteristics of the repertory. The conclusions reflect my thoughts on the level of compositional skill displayed in these pieces, and the likelihood that this music was performed from this source.;This thesis supports the theory, first suggested by Gary Spilsted, that the introit cycle of Tr93 was originally intended to be a repository for future liturgical needs; however, based on the paleographic and stylistic evidence I have observed, I do not believe that this collection was ever used for its intended purpose. Nonetheless, it does present an intriguing snapshot of both the stylistic preferences and the scribal practices of mid fifteenth-century Trent.